Little reports showed cyclin D1 changes in esophageal cancer from southern China. In this study, we detected cyclin D1 expression in esophageal carcinomas from southern China 61% and 35% cases showed increased expression of cyclin D1 in esophageal carcinomas and the adjacent epithelia, respectively. Significant difference for cyclin D1 expression was found between esophageal carcinomas and the adjacent epithelia. Comparing cyclin D1 expression in the carcinomas at different stages, we found significant alterations. The results suggested that cyclin D1 was involved in the earlier event and accumulated as the cancer evolved to a later stage in some esophageal carcinomas.