The univariate Cox regression analyses showed that T classification (P < 0.001), N classification (P < 0.001), distant metastasis (P < 0.001), clinical TNM stage (P < 0.001), Intravascular cancer emboli (P = 0.0024) and hepsin expression (P = 0.0014) were significantly relevant with overall survival in gastric cancer. Here, HPN is linked to gastric cancer.