Abstract: To investigate the association of two polymorphisms of XPA with the risk of susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( ESCC) and gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma ( GCA) in a population of high incidence region of Hebei Province. Methods 　Two polymorphisms of XPA (A23 G, at position24 from the ATG start condon and G709A, at codon 228, in exon 6) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction rest riction f ragment length polymorphism ( PCR2RFL P) analysis in 327 ESCC patients, 253 GCA patient s and 612 healthy cont rols. Results 　The overall genotype and allelotype dist ributions of XPA A23 G in ESCC patient s were significantly different f rom that in healthy cont rols ( P < 0. 05) . The A/ G+ G/ G genotype significantly decreased the risk of developing ESCC compared with A/ A genotype. Stratified analysis showed that the protective effect was more evident in non-smokers and smokers. The protective effect was more evident in subject s with negative history of U GIC. The overall genotype and allelotype dist ributions of XPA A23 Gin GCA patient s were not significantly different f rom that in healthy controls ( P > 0. 05) . Compared with A/ A genotype, A/ G + G/ G genotype significantly decreased the risk of GCA. When st ratified for status, the genotype dist ributions of XPA A23 G in GCA patient s were significantly different f rom that in healthy controls ( P < 0. 05) . Compared with A/ A genotype, A/ G +G/ G genotype significantly decreased the risk of GCA in non-smoker group . Conclusion 　XPA23A/ G+ G/ G genotype may be one of the factors that affect the risk of developing ESCC and GCA in population in the high incidence region of Hebei Province.