目的 :探讨食管癌端粒酶活性的表达及ras基因的突变。方法 :采用PCR技术为基础的端粒重复序列扩增 ,对 38例食管鳞癌及食管炎、癌旁组织进行端粒酶及食管癌端粒酶活性及ras基因突变的检测。结果 :38例食管癌中 32例端粒酶阳性 ,检出率为 84.2 % ,ras基因阳性 31例 ,阳性率 81 .2 % ;癌旁组织 2例呈阳性 ,检出率为 1 6 .7% ;ras基因阳性 4例 ,阳性率 33 .3 % ;食管炎 2例呈阳性 ,检出率为 1 6 .7% ;ras基因阳性 2例 ,阳性率 1 6 .7% ;食管癌组与癌旁组织组及食管炎组分别对照均有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5) ;38例食管癌端粒酶和ras基因突变存在显著相关性 (χ2 =1 1 .4 ,P <0 .0 0 5) ;端粒酶及ras基因与食管癌发生部位、肿瘤分化程度、有无淋巴结转移无明显关系。结论 :端粒酶的激活及ras基因突变在食管癌的发生、发展中起重要作用可作为食管癌的诊断指标 ,二者具有显著相关性 Objective: To investigate the expression of telomerase activity and the mutation of ras gene in esophageal cancer. Methods: Telomerase activity, telomerase activity and ras gene mutation were detected in 38 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, esophagitis and paracancerous tissues by polymerase chain reaction-based telomeric repeat amplification. Results: Thirty-eight cases of esophageal cancer were positive in telomerase activity, the positive rate was 84.2%, the positive rate of ras gene was 31.2%, the positive rate was 81.2%. The paracancerous tissues were positive in 2 cases and the detection rate was 16.7 %; ras gene positive in 4 cases, the positive rate of 33.3%; esophagitis in 2 cases was positive, the detection rate was 16.7%; ras gene positive in 2 cases, the positive rate of 16.7%; esophageal cancer group and (P <0.05). There was a significant correlation between telomerase and ras gene mutations in 38 cases of esophageal carcinoma (χ2 = 11.4, P <0 .0 05). There was no significant correlation between telomerase and ras gene and the location of esophageal cancer, tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: The activation of telomerase and mutation of ras in esophageal cancer play an important role in the development of esophageal cancer can be used as a diagnostic indicator, the two have a significant correlation