Abstract: By means of immunohistochemistry and TUNEL, the expression of four apoptosisrelated genes and apoptosis ability were examined in situ in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. Results: In 52 cases of tumor group, the positive rate (PR) of P53, Fas, Bcl-2 and Bax expression was 61.5%, 61.5%, 69.2% and 98.1%,respectively. The PR of apoptotic cell was 28.8%. In 18 cases of control group, the corresponding parameters were 16.7%, 100%, 38.9%, 100% and 61.1%, respectively. As compared with control group, the PR of P53, Bcl-2 expression were significantly higher in tumor group (P<0.01 and P<0.05), with the significantly decreased PR of Fas expression and apoptotic cell (P<0.01 and P<0.05). No correlation was showed between each protein expression of four and apoptosis detection. These findings implicate that, during the course of carcinogenesis in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, the reduction of apoptosis ability is prominent, accompanied with abnormal expression of multiple apoptosisrelated genes

Key words: esophageal neoplasms, squamous cell carcinoma, apoptosis, gene expression