Basak et al (1998) showed that in a model system Ep-CAM mediated adhesion can suppress invasion of tumour cells grafted in mice. Therefore, it seems quite possible that Ep-CAM negative cells are greatly reduced in means of cell–cell adhesion, which promotes their metastasis. However, we did not find a prognostic impact for E-cadherin expression, in concordance with findings in colorectal cancer (Van der Wurff et al, 1992, 1997). No studies have been carried out on gastric cancer previously, except for hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, which is extremely rare (Suriano et al, 2003). Here, EPCAM is linked to gastric cancer.