Purpose: This study was to analyze the research trend centering on the theses to cancer nursing research in digestive system released in Korea. Method: The researcher collected the academic degrees and theses published on the book of the academic soceity from January 1993 to August, 2004, and examined 38 domestic papers of cancer nursing research in digestive system. Results: 1) As for the subject, the results were : patients with stomach cancer 25(66%), colon cancer 4(11%), rectal cancer 3(8%), and others(taxi drivers 2, family of cancer patents. 2) As for the research designs the result were : quantitative studies were 33(87%), and qualitative studies were 9(23%). 3) As for key concepts of survey, the results were : life patterns of patients with rectal cancer, oral intake of stomach cancer patients, fatigue of stomach cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, nursing needs when discharging from hospital after operation with gastrectomy, and so on. 4) As for the comparative studies, the results were : risk factors between colorectal patients and general population, early symptom and risk factors between stomach cancer patients and general population, and risk factors between stomach cancer and patients with gastritis. 5) As for main concepts of correlational studies, the results were : quality of life, health belief, fatigue, health promotion behavior, social support, straitanxiety. 6) The treatment of experimental research, the results were : information services, arc reflex massage, acupressure, educational program for discharge, 7)As for the qualitative studies, in terms of subjects, stomach cancer patients were 2, spouse of patients with stomach cancer was 1, rectal cancer patients were 2. In the theme of the qualitative studies, the results were: experience of family of patients with stomach cancer, experience of long term survival of patients with rectal cancer, experience of disease process of rectal cancer patiens. 8) As for the used instrument in studies, the results were : Strait-anxiety Scale by Spielberger, Nausea and Vomiting Scale by Rhodes, Social support by Tae and Lee, Health belief by Champion, Becker, and Moon. QOL by NCCN, Roh, Pdilla, Kwon, Revised Fatigue Scale by Piper, Health Locus of Control by Wallston and Wallston, Uncertainty Scale by Mishel. Conclusions: More research needs to be encouraged in various subject of cancer patients in digestive system. More nonexperimental and experimental researches should be conducted for the establishment of the basis of practical and theoretical framework and the providing good quality of care for cancer patients.