Objective: To investigate the expression and significance of E-cadherin

β-catenin

and matrix metalloproteinase-7（MMP-7） in oral squamous cell carcinoma（OSCC）. Methods: The method of immunohistochemistry（SP） was used to determine the expression of E-cadherin

β-catenin

and MMP-7 in OSCC

and the correlations between them were explored. Results: Compared with the normal oral mucosal tissues

OSCC had significantly lower positive expression rates of E-cadherin and β-catenin and a significantly higher positive expression rate of MMP-7（P < 0.05）. With the decrease in the degree of OSCC differentiation

the positive expression rates of E-cadherin and β-catenin were gradually down-regulated

and the positive expression rate of MMP-7 was gradually up-regulated（P < 0.05）. In OSCC

there was a positive correlation between the positive expression rates of E-cadherin and β-catenin（r = 0.750

P <0.001）

and both of them were negatively correlated with the positive expression rate of MMP-7（r =-0.659

P < 0.001; r =-0.604

P < 0.001）. Conclusion: In OSCC

the expression of E-cadherin

β-catenin

and MMP-7 is closely related to the degree of OSCC differentiation.