Objective: To analyze the expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 in the primary lesion and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer and its relation with invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. Methods: Using immunohistochemical staining, the expression of β-catenin and cyclin D1 in the primary lesions and metastases from 55 cases of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in which 21 cases had lymph node metastases, and 55 cases non-TNBC in which 25 cases had lymph node metastases was determined. Results: In 46 cases with lymph node metastases, both the β-catenin ectopic expression rate and cyclin D1 positive expression rate in the metastases were significantly higher than those in the primary tumor (54.3% vs. 76.1%; 63.0% vs. 82.6%, both P<0.05), and the β-catenin ectopic expression rate and cyclin D1 positive expression rate had positive correlation in either the primary or metastatic tumor (r=0.29; r=0.38, both P<0.05). Whether it was in the primary lesion or metastasis, there was no statistical difference in the β-catenin ectopic expression rate or cyclin D1 positive expression rate between TNBC and non-TNBC (all P>0.05). Conclusion: High β-catenin ectopic expression and cyclin D1 positive expression is associated with a high potential of invasion and metastasis in breast cancer, but the even higher potential of invasion and metastasis of TNBC may be associated with other mechanisms that are independent of Wnt signaling pathway.