Ezrin　is　a　membrane-cytoskeletal　linker　belonging　to　the　ezrin-radixin-moesin　(ERM)　family　and　has　been　suggested　to　be　involved　in　tumorigenesis.　In　this　study　we　investigated　ezrin　expression　pattern　in　normal　esophageal　mucosa　and　esophageal　squamous　cell　carcinoma　(ESCC)　and　the　correlation　with　clinical　characteristics.　Immunohistochemical　staining　showed　a　tendency　for　ezrin　to　translocate　from　membrane　to　cytoplasm　in　the　progression　from　normal　epithelium　to　invasive　carcinoma　of　the　esophagus.　By　Western　blot,　we　found　that　ezrin　expression　was　downregulated　in　13　ESCC　specimens　and　upregulated　in　36　others.　Moreover,　quantitative　real-time　RT-PCR　demonstrated　that　ezrin　mRNA　level　in　normal　esophageal　mucosa　was　3.60　+/-　3.60　times　that　in　ESCC　(p　＜　0.001).　Proliferating　cell　nuclear　antigen　(PCNA)　expression　level　was　higher　in　ezrin　downregulated　group　compared　with　that　in　ezrin　upregulated　group　(p　＜　0.05).　However,　there　was　no　significant　association　between　ezrin　expression　and　clinical　characteristics.　The　results　suggested　that　the　localization　of　ezrin　by　immunohistochemistry　may　be　useful　in　the　diagnosis　of　ESCC,　and　ezrin　may　play　a　suppressive　role　in　the　tumorgenesis　of　ESCC.