RAB3A interacting protein (Rab3IP) has been determined to be involved in cancer progression; however, its expression pattern and function in gastric cancer remain unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the association between Rab3IP and gastric cancer, in addition to its functional role in this disease. Overexpression of Rab3IP in gastric cancer was verified at both transcriptional and translational levels. Analysis of clinical data indicated its role as an independent risk factor for survival. Cellular studies showed that Rab3IP could induce an aggressive phenotype in gastric cancer cells and that its expression was correlated with markers of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In addition, we verified the co-expression of and interplay between Rab3IP and SSX2 during gastric cancer progression. Thus, these findings elucidated the central role of Rab3IP in inducing an invasive phenotype in gastric cancer cells, in addition to its involvement in EMT. Our results could be exploited for the clinical prognosis and treatment of this important disease. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.