Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the expression of N-cadherin and β-catenin mRNA in human brainstem and supratentorial gliomas. MethodsN-cadherin and β-catenin mRNA expression in 18 cases of brainstem gliomas and 18 cases of supratentorial gliomas tissues were detected with PT-PCR. Resultsβ-catenin mRNA expression was more in human brainstem gliomas than in supratentorial gliomas （t=2.255,P<0.05）, but was not significantly different of N-cadherin mRNA (P＞0.05). The expression of N-cadherin mRNA in human brainstem gliomas of grades Ⅰ～Ⅱ were less than those in human gliomas of grades Ⅲ～Ⅳ (t=2.711，P<0.05), but was not of β-catenin mRNA (P＞0.05). N-cadherin mRNA expression was positively correlated with the β-catenin mRNA expression in either brainstem gliomas or supratentorial gliomas （r=0.480，r=0.809 respectively, P<0.05）. ConclusionThe over expressions of N-cadherin and β-catenin may play an important role in the invasion and malignant progress of human brainstem gliomas.

Key words: glioma, N-cadherin, β-catenin, brainstem, supratentorial