Abstract: Objective To investigate the expressions of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and maixmetallo proteinases 2 (MMP2) in human
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and their association with the clinicopathological features. Methods
Immunohistochemistry was employed to examine the expressions of Shh and MMP2 in 48 specimens of ESCC and 44
specimens of adjacent tissues. Results The positivity rate of Shh expression in ESCC (75%) was significantly higher than that in
the adjacent tissues (20.45%). Shh expression was located mainly in the cell nuclei and cytoplasm, and was closely correlated
with TNM stage. Positive MMP2 expression was detected in 68.75% of the ESCC tissues as compared to 22.72% in the adjacent
tissues. MMP2 expression was localized mainly in the cytoplasm, and its expression level was closely correlated with TNM
stage and lymph node metastasis. A positive correlation was found between Shh and MMP2 expressions in the 48 ESCC tissues
(R=0.037, P=0.019). Conclusion The expression of Shh protein may be involved in tumor invasion and metastasis of ESCC.