Abstract: [Abstract] Objective：To explore the expression and clinical significance of retinoic acid receptors αβ in normal and abnormal ovarian epithelial cancer tissues．Methods：Expression of retinoic acid receptors was detected in 20 normaltissues, 20 benign tissues ,20 bordline tissues and 52 ovarian cancer tissues using immunohistochemistry．Results：The positive expression of retinoic acid receptorα in normal tissues , benignin tissues , bordline tissues and ovarian cancer patients were 80.77% 、50% 、15%、20% respectively,it has statistical significance in different pathological grade and FIGO stage. The positive expression of retinoic acid receptorβ in normal tissues , benignin tissues , bordline tissues and ovarian cancer patients were 76.92% 、45% 、30%、30% respectively．The expression of retinoic acid receptorβwere related to the histological type ,FIGO stage (P<0.05)． Conclusion：The expression of retinoic acid receptorαβwere higher in ovarian cancer ,and may be associated with ovarian carcinogenesis．

Key words: ovarian cancer, retinoic acid receptors, immunohistochemistry