Abstract:ObjectiveTo observe the expressions of mRNA and protein of metastasis-associated protein 2 (MTA2) in tongue carcinoma and explore its clinical significance.MethodsProtein expression of MTA2 in 95 specimens of tongue carcinoma and 25 of para-tumor normal mucosa epithelial tissue was detected by immun ohistochemical method. The expressions of MTA2 mRNA and MTA2 protein in 20 specimens of tongue carcinoma and 20 of para-tumor normal tissue were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot respectively. The relationships between the expressions and patients’ gender, age and the degree of differentiation of carcinoma tissue were analyzed.Results① The expressions MTA2 mRNA and MTA2 protein in the tongue carcinoma tissues were significantly increased compared with the para-tumor normal tissues (both P<0.05). ② There were no significant relationships between the expressions and patients’ gender and age (all P>0.05) while the expressions were negatively correlated with the differentiation degree of carcinoma (both P<0.05).ConclusionsMTA2 expression in tongue carcinoma tissue is higher than that in the para-tumor normal tissue. MTA2 expression is negatively correlated with the differentiation degree of carcinoma.