In summary, ECM1 expression is aberrant elevated in gastric cancer and is positively correlated with LMVD and several clinicopathological characteristics, as is depth of tumor invasion and TNM stage; thus providing a clue that evaluation of ECM1 expression in gastric cancer tissues facilitates the prediction of carcinogenesis and metastatic spread in human gastric cancer. The gene discussed is ECM1; the disease is neoplasm.