Abstract: Objective: To investigate the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2(TIMP-2) in esophageal carcinoma and their relation with the recurrence or metastasis after esophagectomy.Methods: The expressions of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 in patients with ESCC who survived over 5 years without recurrence or metastasis(group A) and those who died of recurrence or metastasis within 1 year(group B) were detected by immunohistochemistry with Tissue Chip technique.Results: There was no expression or little expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 in normal esophageal mucosa,but different degrees of expression in esophageal carcinoma.The expression of MMP-9 was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastasis than in those without(P<0.01);the expression of TIMP-2 was positively correlated with the tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis(P<0.05);the expression of MMP-9 was not correlated with the expression of TIMP-2(P>0.05).Conclusions: The MMP-9 and TIMP-2 express high in the esophageal carcinoma tissue,and the expression level is significantly correlated with the recurrence or metastasis of the tumor after esophagectomy.Determination of the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 may be of prognostic value in predicting the recurrence or metastasis of the tumor.It is suggested that this detection be included in the routine examination item for the resected specimen to direct the postoperative treatment.