AIM:To investigate the expression profile of miRNA in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).METHODS:The expression profile of miRNA in ESCC tissues was analyzed by miRNA microarray.The expression levels of miR-143 and miR-145 in 86 ESCC patients were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR) using TaqMan assay.The mobility effect was estimated by wound-healing using esophageal carcinoma cells transfected with miRNA expression plasmids.RESULTS:A set of miRNAs was found to be deregulated in the ESCC tissues,and the expression levels of miR-143 and-145 were significantly decreased in most of the ESCC tissues examined.Both miR-143 and miR-145 expression correlated with tumor invasion depth.The transfection of human esophageal carcinoma cells with miR-143 and miR-145 expression plasmids resulted in a greater inhibition of cell mobility,however,the protein level of the previously reported target of miR-145,FSCN1,did not show any significant downregulation.CONCLUSION:These findings suggest that the deregulation of miRNAs plays an important role in the progression of ESCC.Both miR-143 and miR-145 might act as anti-oncomirs common to ESCC. AIM: To investigate the expression profile of miRNA in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: The expression profile of miRNA in ESCC tissues was analyzed by miRNA microarray. The expression levels of miR-143 and miR-145 in 86 ESCC patients were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using TaqMan assay. The mobility effect was estimated by wound-healing using esophageal carcinoma cells transfected with miRNA expression plasmids .RESULTS: A set of miRNAs was found to beregulated in the ESCC tissues, and the expression levels of miR-143 and-145 were significantly decreased in the most of the ESCC-combined samples. miR-143 and miR-145 expression correlated with tumor invasion depth. The transfection of human esophageal carcinoma cells with miR-143 and miR -145 expression plasmids resulted in a greater inhibition of cell mobility, however, the protein level of the previously reported target of miR-145, FSCN1, did not show any significant downregulation .CONCLUSION: These fin dings suggest that the deregulation of miRNAs plays an important role in the progression of ESCC.Both miR-143 and miR-145 might act as anti-oncomirs common to ESCC.