Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of all trans-retinoic acid(ATRA)on the expression of Akt or its phosphorylated proteins and on apoptosis of human gastric carcinoma cell line(SGC-7901).Methods The effects of ATRA on the cell proliferation was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT),the apoptosis of ATRA on SGC-7901cells was observed by fluorescentmicroscope,and the expression of Akt,p-Akt(Ser473)and p-Akt(Thr308)were measured by Western blot.Results ATRA inhibits the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells in a dose and time dependent manner.SGC-7901 cells showing typical apoptosis morphological changes were induced by ATRA at 48h.ATRA did not influence the expression of Akt,but significantly decreased the expression of p-Akt(Ser473)and p-Akt(Thr308).Conclution ATRA could induce apoptosis by down-regulating expression of p-Akt(Ser473)and p-Akt(Thr308).