Objective   Evidence shows that there is close relationship between apoptotic disorder with malignant changes of the cells. To study the role of apoptosis in cervical tumor

we detected the expressions of 3 pro-apoptotic factors (Cyt-c

Caspase-9 and Caspase-3) and 2 anti-apoptotic factors (B

cl-2 and survivin) in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical carcinoma.    Methods   Expression of the 3 pro-apoptotic factors and anti-apoptotic factors was detected using the S-P immunocytochemical staining method and image analysis in 45 cases of pathologically identified squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

18 cases of adenocarcinoma (AC)

33 cases of CIN and 23 normal subjects as control.    Results   Expression of Cyt-c in AC group was obviously higher than that of control (

P

<

0.01)

and was higher in the AC group than CIN and SCC groups (

P

<

0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of Cyt-c in CIN and SCC groups with that control (

P

>0.05). Comparing the expression of Caspase-9 in the normal group with the other 3 groups

there was no significant difference (

P

>0.05). But the expression of Caspase-9 in AC group was significantly higher than that in CIN and squamous cell carcinoma group (

P

<

0.05). The expression of Caspase-3 in AC group was obviously higher than that of control (

P

<

0.01). As well as that of in SCC group was higher than that of control (

P

<

0.05). However

that in AC group was higher than in CIN and SCC group (

P

<

0.01). The expression of Bcl-2 and survivin in AC group

SCC group and CIN group was obviously higher than that of control

and the expression in AC group was the highest.    Conclusion   Pro-apoptotic factors and anti-apoptotic factors might play important roles in the occurrence and development of cervical carcinoma.