【Abstract】Objective To investigate the correlation of adhesive molecule expressions with potential of invasion and metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods S-P immunohistochemical method was used to detect CD44v6 and E-cadherin expression in 58 cases of PTC. Results The positive rates of CD44v6 and E-cadherin in PTC were 72.40%and 41.4% respectively. There was a positive correlation between CD44v6 expression and tumor invasive and metastatic potential in PTC (P＜0.05), and a reverse correlation between E-cadherin expression and the potential (P＜0.01).Moreover,there was a reverse correlation between the CD44v6 and E-cadherin expression in PTC(P＜0.05). Conclusion These data show a correlation between the adhesive molecule expression and the potential of invasion and metastasis in PTC. CD44v6 and E-cadherin may be prognostic indicators in PTC.