OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Maspin protein in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), with the effort to realize practical diagnosis use of them.

METHODSThe expression status of Maspin protein in 45 cases of OSCC, 33 cases of paratumor tissue and 15 cases of normal tissue was examined by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe positive rates of Maspin protein were 86.67% (13/15), 72.73% (24/33) and 37.78% (17/45) in normal tissue, paratumor tissue and OSCC. The expression of Maspin protein increased respectively in OSCC, paratumor tissue and normal tissue. The expression were different between OSCC and normal tissue, OSCC and paratumor tissue, paratumor tissue and normal tissue (P<0.05). The expression of Maspin protein was correlated with lymph node metastasis, histological grade (P<0.05), but not with TNM staging (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMaspin protein may play an important role in the development of OSCC. The expression level of Maspin protein detected in early time might be a useful prognostic marker for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis.