Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the expression of cell adhesion molecules [epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin)] and extracellular matrix protease [matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9] in preinvasive and invasive lesions of squamous neoplasia of the uterine cervix.Method: The study included 14 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 43 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing was performed for E-cadherin and MMP-9 using the polymer technique. The pathological prognostic parameters, like tumour grade, stage, lymphovascular space invasion and mitosis were compared with the expression of these markers.Results: The mean age of the patients with CIN was 40.1 years, and 50.9 years for those with SCC. Complete uniform membranous expression of E-caherin was demonstrated in the normal epithelium and most CIN (79%). MMP-9 was not expressed in the normal epithelium, whereas 43% of CIN (of which 67% were CIN grade III) were positive. Loss of membranous E...