AIM:To clone novel gastric cancer-associated genes and investigate their roles in gastric cancer occurrence.METHODS:A method called differential display was used which allows the identification of differentially expressed genes by using PAGE to display PCR-amplified cDNA fragments between gastric cancer cells and normal gastric mucosa cells. These fragments were cloned into plasmid vector pUC18. Homology analysis was made after sequencing these fragments.RESULTS:Two novel genes were identified compared with sequences from GenBank. One was registered with the AD number AF 051783.In situ hybridization showed that these two novel genes expressed specifically in gastric cancer tissues.CONCLUSION:The two novel genes obtained by differential display were confirmed to be gastric cancer-associated genes using in situ hybridization.