Objective: To investigate the expression of herg1 gene in tumor tissues from gastric carcinomas and gastric carcinoma cell lines, and study the relationship between HERG K+ channel expressions and tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis. Methods: RT-PCR and PCR assays were used to detect the expression of herg1 gene in 64 gastric carcinomas and the gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. Blocking the HERG K+ channels was used to evaluate their effects on tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis. Results:The statistically significant expression of herg1 gene was detected in all the gastric cancers and SGC-7901 cells, but not in normal tissues. The HERG K+ channel blocker, E-4031, increased the cell population in G0/G1(P < 0.05) and the number of apoptotic tumor cells(P < 0.05). Conclusion: HERG K+ channels were expressed in all gastric carcinomas tested and these channels appear to modulate tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis.