Abstract: Objective To estimate the efficacy and toxic reaction of capecitabine monotherapy for patients with advanced gastric cancer. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed in 82 patients with advanced gastric cancer treated in our hospital form January 2008 to June 2014， and all patients had achieved complete response （CR）， partial remission （PR） or stable disease （SD）after the systemic chemotherapy. Of the 82 cases， 41 patients were given capecitabine maintenance treatment with a dose of capecitabine accounting for 1 250 mg/m²， 2 times/d， continually for 14 days， 3 weeks for a period. Treatment was followed during disease progression or progression of last follow-up. All patients had achieved at least 2 cycles of treatment. Another 41 patients without maintenance treatment were served as control group. The median progression-free survival and 1- and 2-year survival rates， and the capecitabine adverse reactions were observed. Results The median progression-free survival time was 7.9 months for the maintenance treatment group and 5.1 months for control group （P＜ 0.05）， the 1-year survival rate was 48.8% （20/41） and 26.8% （11/41）， respectively （P＜ 0.05）， and the 2-year survival rate was 9.8% （4/41） and 4.9% （2/41）， respectively （P＞ 0.05）. The complications included hand-foot syndrome in 20 cases （48.8%）， arrest of bone marrow in 16 cases （39.0%）， and gastrointestinal reaction in 15 cases （36.6%）， the reaction that was mostly ofⅠorⅡ degree could be tolerated well. Conclusion Capecitabine monotherapy maintenance treatment can prolong the median progression-free survival rate and improve the 1-year survival rate， in addition， the treatment compliance is good and the gastrointestinal reaction is well tolerated in patients.