Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the relationship between the antitumor immunoreaction and the cell apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma.MethodsThe IL-1β converting enzyme, Fas and FasL protein were labeled by LSAB immunohistochemistric method in 46 cases of esophageal carcinoma, of which 13 cases were labeled by TdT mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL).ResultsThe positive rates of ICE, Fas and FasL proteins in the cancer nests were 78.26%, 60.87% and 47.83%. The expression of ICE protein was related to the histological grading of the cancer.Conclusions The expression of Fas, FasL protein may be related to the immunological escape of the cancer cell; the expression of ICE was related to the histological grading of the cancer.

Key words: apoptosis, esophageal carcinoma, apoptosis related protein