Abstract： AIM:To investigate the expression of CD_(44)V6 and E-eadherin,and clinical significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.METHODS:The expression of CD_(44)V6 and E-cadherin were detected in 52 esophageal neoplasms specimens and 15 normal tissue specimens with SP immunohistochemical staining.RESULTS:The positive rates of CD_(44)V6 in carcinomas was 73.08% and was significantly higher than that in the normal epithelial tissues(P<0.05).The positive rates of E-cadherin in carcinomas was 42.3 1%and was significantly lower than that in the normal epithelial tissues(P<0.05).The expression of CD_(44)V6 and E-cadherin were closely correlated with the clinical stage,infiltration depth and lymph node metastasis(P<0.05),and not with gender,age and pathological classification.In addition,the expression of E-cadherin was closely correlated with histological grade.The expression of CD_(44)V6 was negative relation to that of E.eadherin(r=-0.446,P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Expression of CD_(44)V6 and E-cadherin protein was correlated with the potential of invasion and metastasis in esophageal squamous cell careinomas.The combined detection of CD_(44)V6 and E-cadherin protein may be valuable in predicting the prognosis of esophageal carcinoma.