Abstract: Objective: To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP-2) and its correlation with expression of Ki67 and proliferative,invasiveness and metastasis in human esophageal carcinoma(EC).Methods: The expressions of MMP-2 and Ki67 were detected in 75 cases of EC and 30 cases of controls by immunohistochemical stain(S-P method) and their relationship with the clinicopathologic factors was analyzed.Results: The positive rates of MMP-2 and Ki67 were 82.7% and 78.7% respectively in EC group.The positive rates of MMP-2 and Ki67 in EC group were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0.05).The expressions of MMP-2 and Ki67 were detected in 51 cases, and the accord rate of was 74.7%(P>0.05).The expression of MMP-2 in EC group was correlated with vessel invasion,depth of invasion, and metastasis to the paraesophageal lymph nodes except age, sex and tumor size(P<0.05-P<0.005).Conclusions: The expression of MMP-2 in EC is closely related with proliferative,invasiveness and metastasis of toumor cell.Expression of MMP-2 might play an important role in the development of EC,and MMP-2 become a biological marker for evaluating the malignant potential of EC.