Background Loss of E-cadherin is a critical step for development and progression of malignant tumours. CD10, a marker of non-neoplastic and neoplastic endometrial stroma, is associated with aggressiveness of many epithelial malignancies. We sought to evaluate the expression and correlation of E-cadherin and CD10 in endometrial lesions and their possible role in differentiating atypical endometrial hyperplasia from endometrial carcinoma. The association of E-cadherin and CD10 expression with clinicopathological parameters of endometrial carcinoma was also investigated. Methods Fifty-four patients were enrolled in this study, including 28 with endometrial carcinomas, 19 with endometrial hyperplasia, and seven with normal endometrial changes. We evaluated the expression of E-cadherin and CD10 by immunohistochemistry using the streptavidin–biotin technique. Findings There was a strong association between malignant change of endometrial glands and membranocytoplasmic localisation of E-cadherin (p < 0.001). Expression of E-cadherin but not CD10 was significantly higher in endometrial carcinomas than in atypical endometrial hyperplasia (p < 0.01). Expression of E-cadherin was not associated with CD10 expression in different endometrial lesions. High grade tumours tend to express low levels of both E-cadherin (p < 0.05) and CD10 (p < 0.01) and serous endometrial carcinoma had low E-cadherin and CD10 expression compared with endometrioid carcinoma (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). CD10 expression showed no association with either depth of tumour invasion or FIGO stage. Tumours with lower E-cadherin or CD10 expression had higher rates of vascular tumour embo…