Abstract:ObjectiveTo explore the function and significance of Gprotein coupled receptor 81 (GPR81) and translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane member 20 (TOMM20) in hypopharyngeal carcinoma.MethodsImmunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the expressions of GPR81 and TOMM20 in specimens of hypopharyngeal carcinoma and corresponding adjacent hypopharyngeal mucosa from 30 patients with pathologically confirmed hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Their clinical data were analyzed. Fadu cells were incubated with cisplatin of a certain concentration for 0h，12h，24h and 48h respectively. The expression profiles of mRNA and protein level about GPR81, TOMM20 were detected by realtime polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) and Western Blot. The apoptosis of Fadu cells incubated with cisplatin was determined by flow cytometry.ResultsThe expressions of GPR81 and TOMM20 in carcinoma tissues were higher than those in adjacent hypopharyngeal tissues (P<0.05). In hypopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, the expressions of GPR81 and TOMM20 in specimens of stage IIIIV were higher than those of stage III (P<0.05). The expressions of GPR81 and TOMM20 in specimens from patients with lymphatic metastasis were higher than those without lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05). The expression of GPR81 in hypopharyngeal carcinoma specimens with moderate to low differentiation was higher than that with high differentiation (P<0.05), while the difference of TOMM20 expression was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Expressions of both GPR81 and TOMM20 in Fadu cells incubated by cisplatin showed decreasing trend with time. No significant differences were found in the expression profiles of GPR81 and TOMM20 at 48h compared with those at 0h (P>0.05). The apoptosis rates in the cisplatininduced cells and untreated cells were（18.68±0.33）% and (11.35±0.87)% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).ConclusionsGPR81 and TOMM20 may be associated with the genesis of hypopharyngeal carcinoma and participate in the development of chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, targeted research on proteins related with energy metabolism may be a new orientation in the treatment of invasive tumors.