To examine the expression of human telomere reverse transcriptase (hTERT), p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in cystitis glandularis, 38 patients were divided into two groups: group A (including 18 cases of papillary cystitis glandularis) and group B (including 20 subjects with normal bladder mucosa). All the cases were immunohistochemically examined by using antibodies specifically against p53 and PCNA, and hTERT was determined by in situ hybridization. hTERT was found in 6 cases (33.3%) and p53 was detected in 4 cases (22.2%) in group A, while they were not detected in group B. There were significant differences in hTERT and p53 expression between groups A and B (P<0.05 for both). PCNA was detected in 7 cases (38.9%) in group A and 1 case (5.0%) in group B, and significant difference in PCNA expression was found between the two groups (P<0.05). The expressions of hTERT, p53 and PCNA were significantly higher in group A than in group B, suggesting that papillary cystitis glandularis is predisposed to cancerous change, and p53, PCNA, hTERT may be related to the malignant alteration.