To investigate promoter methylation in the deleted in lung and esophageal cancer 1 (DLEC1) gene in Chinese patients with gastric cancer.,A total of 227 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled. The methylations of the promoter regions of DLEC1 and ACTB were determined using quantitative methylation-specific PCR. The DLEC1 methylation was compared to the clinicopathological variables of gastric cancer.,DLEC1 methylation was not associated with the clinicopathological variables of gastric cancer. Patients with DLEC1-hypermethylated gastric cancer had significantly higher recurrence rate than those with DLEC1-hypomethylated gastric cancer (P = 0.025; hazard ratio = 2.43).,Methylation of DELC1 promoter may be a valuable predictor for recurrence in Chinese patients with gastric cancer.