Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of helico bacter infection and its link to inflammatory signalling pathway in esophageal carcinoma and there lationship between chronic inflammation and esophageal carcinoma.Methods Thirty-seven samples of esophageal carcinoma and 10 samples of normal esophageal tissues were randomly collected.Helicobacter species were examined by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)with helicobacter-specific 16SrDNA prmiers.The target products amplified were sequenced and compared with helicobacter.Aresearch for important virulence genes(cagA,babA2,vacA) specific for helicobacter pylori(Hp)were also carried out by PCR.The standard stra in of Hp was co-cultured with EC109 for different period of time and P-IκB-α was detected with We stern blot.Results Helicobacter species were found in esophageal tissue in 31.6%(12/37)of patients with squamous carcinoma whereas none of the controls harboured the 16SrDNA.Nine of helicobacter-specific PCR amplicons were sequenced and the homology was 99%~100% to 16Sr DNA of Hp.Virulence genes,4 cases of cagA,8 cases of babA2 and 3 cases of vacA were found in the helicobacter 16SrDNA-positivee so phageal squamous carcinoma.Expression of P-IkB-in the EC109 markedly increased after co-cultured with Hp.Conclusion Helicobacteraceae are found in human esophageal carcinomatissues which shows the infection of he licobacter species likely Hp.The infection of the bacteria might play a very important role in human esophageal carcinom a generation and development,in which P-IκB-α-associated inflammatory signalling pathway might be one of molecular mechanisms of persisting inflammation.