Objective To investigate the protein expressions of E-cadherin and ?-,?-catenin in breast cancers and their lymph-node metastatic tumors to evaluate their possible role in breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Methods High sensitive S-P immunohistochemical method was used to detect the protein expressions of E-cadherin and ?-,?-catenin in 60 breast cancers(31cases with lymphatic metastasis) and their lymph-node metastatic tumors. Results The abnormal expression rates of the E-cadherin and ?-,?-catenin were 51 7%, 61 7%, 70% respectively in the 60 cases of breast cancers. The expression of E-cadherin was significantly associated with lymphatic metastasis(P