The purpose of this study was to detect the protein and mRNA expression of dysadherin and to investigate the clinical significance of dysadherin expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Twenty fresh GISTs samples were used for testing the mRNA of dysadherin and E-cadherin by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, 54 paraffin blocks of GISTs cases were also used for the investigation of dysadherin and E-cadherin using immunohistochemistry. The dysadherin expression level was significantly correlated with GISTs risk stratification (chi(2)=5.769, P<0.05), but was not related to age, sex, histologic subtype, and location (P>0.05). There was only faint or absent E-cadherin protein expression in GISTs. The expression level of dysadherin is related to the risk of GISTs. Dysadherin upregulation, which may cause loss of E-cadherin, is one of the reasons for GISTs recurrence and metastasis. It seems that dysadherin protein detection is a promising method for GISTs prognostication.