Objective: To evaluate the effect of adenovirus- mediated p53 gene (Adp53) on apoptosis and radiosensitivity of human gastric carcinoma cell lines. Methods: Recombinant adenovirus expressing wild-type p53 gene was transferred into four human gastric carcinoma cell lines with different p53 genetic status. p53 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry assay and western blot assay. Cell survival was assessed using a clonogenic assay. TUNEL assay was used in determination of apoptosis. Four human gastric carcinoma cells infected with Adp53 were irradiated with 4Gy and cell cycle distribution and Sub-G1 peak were assayed by flow cytometry. Results: G2/M arrest, apoptosis and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation were induced by infection at Adp53 at 100 MOI which caused high transfer rate of wild-type p53 and strong expression of p53 protein in four human gastric carcinoma cells. The radio-enhancement ratio of Adp53 at 4Gy were 3.0 for W cell, 3.6 for M cell, 2.2 for neo cell and 2.5 for 823 cell in vitro. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that Adp53 transfer increased cellular apoptosis and radiosensitivity of human gastric carcinoma cell lines in vitro independently on cellular intrinsic p53 status thus supporting the combination of p53 gene therapy with radiotherapy in clinical trials.