Objective:Toinvestigate the association ofE-cadherin expression with the clinicopathologic features

prognosis and angiogenesis in pancreatic carcinoma. Methods:Immunohistochemistry(Power Vision method)were performed to investigate the expression of E-cadherin protein

VEGF protein and CD34 in 49 patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Results:Reduced or loss of membranous expression and cytoplasmic localization of E-cadherin protein were found in pancreatic cancer tissues (36/49

73.5%)by using immunohistochemistry. Moreover there was an positive relationship among E-cadherin protein

VEGF protein and microvessel density expression (P<0.05)in pancreatic cancer tissues. Reduced expression of E-cadherin occurred more frequently in poor differentiation (χ 2 = 8.279

P<0.05)

positive lymph metastasis(χ 2 =4.045

P<0.05)

positive vascular invasion(χ 2 = 4.738

P<0.05)

deeper invasion(χ 2 = 8.653

P<0.05)and advanced stage (χ 2 = 11.006

P <0.05).Additionally

reduced expression of E-cadherin protein in tumor correlated with a worse prognosis and normal expression with a better survival rate(P=0.023).Conclusion:The altered expression of E-cadherin can be regarded as an assistant marker in evaluating the prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma. E-cadherin may activate VEGF-channels

and induce the angiogenesis of pancreatic carcinoma.