The expression levels of FECH mRNA were significantly lower in glioblastoma tissues (mean±s.e., 1.21±0.40; n=41) than that in normal brain tissues (5.71±2.36; P<0.05; n=15), diffuse astrocytoma tissues (3.89±0.92; P<0.05; n=17) and anaplastic astrocytoma tissues (4.60±0.75; P<0.005; n=8). The gene discussed is FECH; the disease is anaplastic astrocytoma.