In the present study, the mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 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 MMP-2 and MMP-9 in hypopharyngeal carcinoma and their involvement in hypopharyngeal carcinoma pathogenesis and metastasis. The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is hypopharyngeal carcinoma.