Objective To elucidate the expression pattern of E-cadherin/catenin adhesion complex and its association with pathologic features in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).Methods Fifty-two non-keratinizing NPC specimens with adjacent non-neoplastic mucosa were examined for E-cadherin,?-CATenin,?-CATenin.Results Abnormal expression rate of E-cadherin,?-catenin and ?-catenin in NPCs were 48.1%(25/52),32.7%(17/52) and 34.6%(18/52),respectively,whereas all adjacent non-neoplastic tissues normally expressed these proteins.Difference of expression of E-cadherin,?-catenin and ?-catenin between tumor tissues and non-cancerous tissues was statistically significant(P