Objective:To assess the value of proximal gastrectomy(PG) and total gastrectomy(TG) in the treatment of proximal gastric cancer. Methods:Studies comparing TG to PG for proximal gastric cancer were collected. Outcome measures included harvested LNs,blood loss,operation time,postoperative complication,mortality,5-year overall survival rate,recurrence rate as well as nutritional states. Meta analysis was performed by RevMan 5.0. Results:Twenty five researches were included in these studies. Three of which were randomly controlled studies. There was no significant differences in postoperative complication(OR=1.93,95%CI=0.97 to 3.85,P=0.060),anastomotic leak(OR=0.74,95%CI=0.31 to 1.76,P=0.490),intestinal obstruction(OR=0.45,95%CI=0.13 to 1.50,P=0.190),reflux esophagitis(OR=4.82,95%CI=0.94 to 24.62,P=0.060),recurrence rate(OR=2.45,95%CI=0.96 to 6.25,P=0.060),5-year over-all survival rate(OR=1.03,95%CI=0.55 to 1.93,P=0.930),mortality(OR=1.35,95%CI=0.73 to 2.50,P=0.340). While there were significant differences in the harvested LNs(WMD=-11.14,95%CI=-17.81 to -4.48,P=0.001),blood loss(WMD=-425.60,95%CI= -559.75 to -291.46,P=0.000),operation time(WMD=-37.24,95%CI=-62.76 to -11.72,P=0.004),anastomotic stenosis(OR=2.65,95%CI=1.11 to 6.33,P=0.030). Harvested LNs and anastomotic stenosis in TG group were better than those in PG group;blood loss and operation time in PG group were better than those in TG group. Conclusion:TG has better long-term therapetic effect. in the treatment of proximal gastric cancer.