ObjectiveTo identify the differences of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) related biomarkers of Ecadherin and Vimentin in mRNA and protein expression levels between esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with lymph node metastasis and no lymph node metastasis.MethodsImmunohistochemistry SP method and quantitative reverse transcriptase realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRTPCR) array were applied to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of Ecadherin and Vimentin on 47 cases of ESCC with lymph node metastasis and 30 cases of ESCC without lymph node metastasis, and 20 cases of normal esophageal mucous membrane tissues.ResultsThe percentage of expressing Ecadherin in normal control group, non metastasis and metastasis group of ESCC were 20/20 (100%), 29/30 (96.67%), and 44/47 (93.62%) respectively, there was a statistically significant difference among three groups (P<0.05), but the percentage of high Ecadherin expression of metastasis group (22/47,46.8%) and non metastasis group (18/30, 60%) had no significant difference (P>0.05).The number of cases with the positive Vimentin protein expression increased in order of normal control group, no metastasis group and metastasis group, the percentage was (0/20,0), (11/30,36.67%), (37/47,78.72%) respectively, showing a significant difference between two groups (P<0.05).The rate with high expression level of Vimentin between the two groups of metastasis group (11/47,23.4%) and no metastasis (2/19,10.53%) had statistical significance (P<0.05).There was a significant negative correlation between Vimentin and Ecadherin, the correlation coefficient was r=-0.377.qRTPCR analysis showed that there was a obvious difference in mRNA expression levels of Ecadherin and Vimentin in the normal group, no metastasis group and metastasis group of ESCC (P<0.05).Ecadherin mRNA expression level showed no significant difference between metastasis group (0.43±0.23) and non metastasis group (0.51±0.54)(P>0.05), while that of Vimentin had a significant difference between metastasis group (4.05±1.88) and non metastasis group (2.70±1.73) (P<0.05).ConclusionsThe expressions of EMT related genes Ecadherin and Vimentin were closely correlated with metastasis of ESCC, and therefore could be used for predictors of the metastasis and recurrence of ESCC as well as useful biomarkers to prognosis.