Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of the gene expressions of Fas、Fasl 、Fadd and caspase8 in esophageal carsinogenesis Methods Immunohistochemical method was applied to detect the expression of Fas、Fasl、Fadd and caspase8 proteins in esophageal epithelium. In situ hybridization method was applied to detect the expression of Fadd and caspase8 mRNA in esophageal epithelium. Results The positive rates of Fas , Fadd and caspase8 proteins and Fadd 、caspase8 mRNA were decreased from normal epithelium to dysplasia and carcinoma tissues gradually. The positive rates of Fasl protein were increased from normal epithelium to dysplasia and carcinoma tissues gradually. There was very significant statistical difference between carcinoma and normal epithelium(p<0.05). The expression of Fas、Fasl and caspase8 was correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation(p<0.05). Conclusion The abnormal expression of Fas and Fasl maybe relate with the pathogenesis of esophageal carcinoma and is also involved in the degree of differentiation and the immune escape. Fadd and caspase8 expression maybe plays an important role in esophageal carsinogenesis.