Objective: To explore the expression pattern of ADAM12 gene in patients with colorectal cancer and analyze its correlation with the clinicopathological parameters and the tumor markers. Methods: ADAM12 expression in mRNA level was detected using quantitative real-time PCR in the colorectal cancer tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissues from 50 patients. The correlations of ADAM12 expression profile with the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were evaluated. The expression pattern of ADAM12 gene in protein level was detected using Western blot in the colorectal cancer tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissues from 5 patients. Results: ADAM12 expression level was significantly higher in the colorectal cancer tissues than in the corresponding adjacent normal tissues,in both protein and mRNA level. Of the 50 patients, 38 (76%) showed up-regulated ADAM12 expression, which correlated significantly with lymphatic metastasis (P=0.005), TNM stage(P=0.002) and survival time(P<0.05) .During the 3-year follow up, 57.89%（22/38）patients in up-regulated died while in normal group,only 17.6%（2/12）died for colorectal cancer(P =0.013). Conclusion: Up-regulation of ADAM12 in colorectal cancer is correlated with lymphatic metastasis and progression and prognosis, suggesting the value of ADAM12 as a potential marker for colorectal cancer.