Abstract: Objective 　Studies on the clinical significance of N-cadherin、MMP-9 in Rectal Cancer. Methods The expression of N-cadherin、MMP-9 of 80 cases of rectal cancer were studied with immunohisto-chemical two step stechnique. Results 　( 1 ) The expressive rate of N-cadherin of Rectal Cancer was 41. 25 %. The expression of A-B grade and C-D grade were 28. 9 % and 57. 1 % respectively ( P < 0. 05) . The expression of lymph node metastasis and no lymph node metastasis were 58. 6 % and 31. 4 % respectively ( P < 0. 05) ; The expression of liver metastasis and no liver metastasis were 69. 2 % and 35. 8 % respectively( P < 0. 05) . (2) The expressive rate of MMP-9 of Rectal Cancer was 60 %. The expression of A-B grade and C-D grade were 40 % and 85. 7 % respectively ( P < 0. 01) ; The expression of lymph node metastasis and no lymph node metastasis were 82. 8 % and 47.1%respectively ; The expression of liver metastasis and no liver metastasis were 84. 6 % and 55. 2 % respectively ( P < 0. 05) . (3) The mean survival time and 52year survival rate in cases with positive N2cadherin and MMP-9 expression were significantly shorter than that of cases with negative expression. Conclusion 　The expression of N-cadherin、MMP-9 was closely related to the rectal cancer, and would be a valuable prognostic marker.