Fascin,　an　actin-bundling　protein,　induces　membrane　protrusions　and　increases　cell　motility　in　various　transformed　cells.　The　overexpression　of　fascin　in　esophageal　squamous　cell　carcinoma　(ESCC)　has　been　described　only　recently,　but　the　roles　and　mechanism　still　remained　unclear.　Here,　by　using　RNA　interference　(RNAi),　we　have　stably　silenced　the　expression　of　the　fascin　in　EC109　cells,　an　ESCC　cell　line.　Down-regulation　of　fascin　resulted　in　a　suppression　of　cell　proliferation　and　as　well　as　a　decrease　in　cell　invasiveness.　Furthermore,　we　revealed　that　fascin　might　have　functions　in　regulating　tumor　growth　in　vivo.　The　effect　of　fascin　on　cell　invasiveness　correlated　with　the　activation　of　matrix　metalloproteases　such　as　MMP-2　and　MMP-9.　We　examined　that　fascin　down-expression　also　led　to　a　decrease　of　c-erbB-2　and　beta-catenin　at　the　protein　level.　These　results　suggested　that　fascin　might　play　crucial　roles　in　regulating　neoplasm　progression　of　ESCC.　(c)　2005　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.