ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions of glycogen syntlase kinase3β (GSK3β) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in hypopharyngeal carcinoma and to discuss their relevance and the roles in carcinogenesis and development of this tumor.MethodsImmunohistochemical technique was used to detect the protein expressions of GSK3β and MIF in specimens of 46 hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and corresponding paracarcinoma tissues as well as 20 normal hypopharyngeal mucosae.Results①The expression of GSK3β protein in hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than those in the paracarcinoma tissues and normal mucosae (both P<0.05). ②The expression of MIF protein in hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues was also significantly higher than those in the paracarcinoma tissues and normal mucosae (both P<0.05). ③The expression of GSK3β protein in hypopharyngeal carcinoma was correlated with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and histological grade of the tumor respectively (all P<0.05). ④The expression of MIF protein in hypopharyngeal carcinoma was correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage of the tumor (both P<0.05).⑤There was no correlation between the expressions of GSK3β and MIF in hypopharyngeal carcinoma.ConclusionThe expressions of GSK3β and MIF may contribute to the carcinogenesis and development of hypopharyngeal carcinoma.