Objective:To explore the expression and clinical significance of EphA2 and Ecadherin in pancreatic cancer tissue and cells.Methods:The expression of EphA2 and Ecadherin in 56 pancreatic carcinomas and 23 adjacent noncancer tissues were studied by immunohistochemistry, and their relationship to clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. RTPCR was performed to explore the expression of EphA2,BXPC3,PC3 and PANC1 in pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. Results:In pancreatic carcinomas tissuse showed increased EphA2 expression and reduced Ecad expression which compared with adjacent noncancer tissues. The expression level of EphA2 had a significant positive relationship with tumor differentiation degree, lymphatic metastasis and clinical stage. However, the expression level of Ecadherin had negative relationship with both the tumor clinical stage and lymphatic invasion. Furthermore, a significant negative relationship between the expression of EphA2 and Ecadherin was observed. The expressions of EphA2 were higher in highinvasive cell lines PXPC3 and Panc1 than in lowinvasive cell line PC3. Conclusions:The expression and/or abnormal function of EphA2 and Ecadherin may together be involved in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer;the combined measurement of these two proteins may be useful for determination of metastatic potency of pancreatic carcinoma.