Objective:To investigate the expression of MMP-2 protein in esophageal squamous carcinoma and its clinicopathologic significance. Methods:Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of MMP-2 in 106 cases of squamous esophageal cancer tissues and 50 normal subjects. Results:The positive expression rate of MMP-2 in the squamous esophageal cancer tissues was 80.2% and there were significant difference comparing with normal subjects(P < 0.05). The positive rate of MMP-2 was significantly correlated with invasion,clinical stage,lymph node metastasis(P < 0.05). Conclusion:The expression of MMP-2 in esophageal squamous carcinoma tissues was high,which suggested that it could be of important clinical value to evaluate invasion,metastasis and prognosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma.