ObjectiveTo study the expression of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (Livin) and aspartate-specific cysteine protease-3 (Caspase-3) in patients with middle ear cholesteatoma and its clinical significance. MethodWe selected 51 patients with cholesteatoma of the middle ear treated between April 2013 and March 2014 in our department to be our study subjects. Streptaridin-perosidase immunohistochemical method was adopted to detect the expression of Livin and Caspase-3 in the middle ear cholesteatoma epithelium and normal skin of external acoustic meatus. SPSS 17.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. ResultsThe expression of Livin in cholesteatoma epithelium was significantly higher than that in the normal skin tissue of the external auditory canal (P<0.05), and the expression of Caspase-3 in cholesteatoma epithelium was significantly higher than the normal skin tissue in the external auditory canal (P<0.05). The expression of Livin and Caspase-3 in cholesteatoma epithelium was positively correlated (r=0.49, P<0.05). ConclusionsThere is a balance between apoptosis and inhibition of apoptosis in normal tissues, and when there is abnormal expression of Livin and Caspase-3 in normal tissues, it will cause cell apoptosis and apoptosis-inhibitory balance disorders, which causes middle ear cholesteatoma.