en Oncology Oncology Original Research Original Research <strong>Background: </strong>Human papilloma virus (HPV) is involved in development of almost all cervical cancers, mainly through the subversion of cellular mechanisms of growth control. Fascin plays central role in subsequent cell transformation events. Fascin mediates stabilization of parallel actin bundles where cellular protrusions are formed; this represents primary stages of cell migration and metastasis. Immunohistochemical assays have shown up-regulation of fascin expression in many epithelial and non-epithelial neoplasms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate HPV infection and fascin expression in samples of cervical cancer.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Methods:</strong> Of 66 patients with confirmed SCC, formalin-fixed specimens, embedded in paraffin blocks were evaluated for HPV infection with nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (NM-PCR) and for fascin expression with immunohistochemical assays.&nbsp; Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum test and SPSS software. A p<0.05 was considered for statistical significance.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Results: </strong>Of 66 samples, 52 (78.7%) were found positive for HPV infection and fascin over-expression was shown in all squamous cell carcinoma samples.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study showed fascin overexpression in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix which might be involved in metastasis of cancers induced by some types of HPV, hypothetically through attenuation of inter-cellular adhesions, and induction of cell motility. Fascin, Human Papilloma Virus, Squamous Cell Carcinoma 784 788 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-4384-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Zohreh Yousefi Ghalejoogh zohreh_y@yahoo.com 200319475328460042529 200319475328460042529 No Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Simin Mirakhor Samani ssamani@qums.ac.ir 200319475328460042530 200319475328460042530 No Department of Pathology, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran Somayeh Shatizadeh Malekshahi shatizadeh@razi.tums.ac.ir 200319475328460042531 200319475328460042531 No Department of Virology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran Reza Shahsiah Shahsiah@yahoo.com 200319475328460042532 200319475328460042532 No Pathology Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Jila Yavarian yavarian@sina.tums.ac.ir 200319475328460042533 200319475328460042533 No Virology Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Seyed Jalal Kiani kiani.j@iums.ac.ir 200319475328460042534 200319475328460042534 Yes Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran