The results showed that the expression of SLC39A1, SLC39A3, SLC39A4, SLC39A5, SLC39A6, SLC39A7, SLC39A8, SLC39A9, SLC39A10, SLC39A11, SLC39A13 and SLC39A14 was significantly upregulated in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues compared with both normal gastric tissues and matched normal gastric tissues (Fig. 1a). This evidence concerns the gene SLC39A4 and gastric adenocarcinoma.