In the present study, the expression and prognostic role of p27 were immunohistochemically investigated in 413 curatively resected gastric carcinomas. Strong p27 expression in more than 50% of the tumour cells could be detected in 57.4% (n = 237) whereas 42.6% of the tumours (n = 176) only showed p27 expression in less than 50% of the tumour cells. No significant correlation could be observed between p27 expression and the prognostic parameters pT category, pN category, blood and lymphatic vessel invasion as well as with tumour histology. Concerning other cell cycle associated proteins, p27 expression was inversely correlated with p21 expression, however, there was no correlation either with cyclin D1 and cyclin E or with expression of p53, bcl-2 and tumour cell proliferation. Univariate survival analysis revealed a poorer prognostic outcome for patients with tumours expressing p27 in more than 50% of the tumour cells (p < 0.049). However, by multivariate analysis, this prognostic influence of p27 could not be verified as independent from the known prognostic parameters of the pTNM-system (p < 0.325). The present data on 413 curatively resected gastric carcinomas suggest, that expression of p27, analyzed alone or in combination with multiple cell cycle regulatory proteins, has no prognostic value in gastric cancer.