In the present study, the mRNA and protein expressions of SOCS-1, SOCS-3 and NF-κB p65 were analyzed at the tissue level by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis to investigate the function and clinical significance of SOCS-1, SOCS-3 and NF-κB p65 in hypopharyngeal carcinoma and their involvement in hypopharyngeal carcinoma pathogenesis. The gene discussed is RELA; the disease is hypopharyngeal carcinoma.