目的　了解食管癌基质分解素 1基因表达的情况。方法　 3 6例食管癌患者术中取癌组织及正常组织 ;提取组织总RNA ;用共扩增逆转录定量PCR方法测定基质分解素 1基因表达水平。结果　食管癌组织基质分解素 1(MMP3 )的基因表达明显高于正常食管组织 ;食管癌组织MMP3 基因表达水平与肿瘤大小 ,肿瘤组织类型无关。结论　基质分解素 1在食管癌的浸润中可能起重要作用 Objective To investigate the expression of stromelysin 1 gene in esophageal cancer. Methods Thirty-six esophageal cancer patients underwent surgery to take cancerous tissue and normal tissue. Total RNA was extracted from the tissue. The expression of stromelysin-1 was measured by co-amplification reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The gene expression of MMP3 in esophageal carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal esophageal tissues. The expression of MMP3 gene in esophageal carcinoma tissues was not related to tumor size and tumor type. Conclusion Stromaltin 1 may play an important role in the invasion of esophageal cancer