ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mRNA expression of KAI1 gene in laryngeal squamous-cell carcinoma and its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fresh laryngeal cancer samples taken from 40 laryngeal carcinoma cases and normal control laryngeal tissues from 9 subjects were examined with semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Moderate, low and negative expression rates of KAI1 gene mRNA in nine normal laryngeal tissues were 33.3% (3/9), 33.3% (3/9) and 33.3% (3/9), respectively. The high, moderate, low and negative expression rates of KAI1 mRNA in 25 laryngeal cancers without lymph node metastasis were 40.0% (10/25), 28.0% (7/25), 20.0% (5/25) and 12.0% (3/25), respectively. The moderate, low and negative expression rates of KAI1 mRNA in 15 laryngeal cancers with lymph node metastasis were 20.0% (3/15), 26.7% (4/15) and 53.3% (8/15), respectively. The KAI1 mRNA expression in the laryngeal cancers without lymph node metastasis was higher than that in normal laryngeal tissues (P < 0.05). The KAI1 mRNA expression in the laryngeal cancers with lymph node metastasis was lower than that in the laryngeal cancers without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The high, moderate and low expression rates of KAI1 mRNA in 10 highly differentiated laryngeal cancers were 50.0% (5/10), 30.0% (3/10) and 20.0% (2/10), respectively. The high, moderate, low and negative expression rates of KAI1 mRNA in 12 low differentiation laryngeal cancers were 8.3% (1/12), 16.7% (2/12), 16.7% (2/12) and 58.3% (7/12), respectively. The differences of KAI1 mRNA expression between high and low differentiation laryngeal cancers were statistically significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The decrease of KAI1 mRNA expression may be related to lymph node metastasis and low differentiation of laryngeal squamous-cell carcinoma.</p>