To investigate correlation of expressions of membrane-type 1

2

and 3 matrix metalloproteinases （MT1

MT2

and MT3-MMP） to the invasion and metastases in laryngeal cancer. Methods Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） was used to examine the mRNA level of MT1

MT2

and MT3-MMP in 24 patients with laryngeal cancer. The relationships of these three MT-MMP expressions to clinico-pathology were analyzed by statistics. Results The expressions of MT1

MT2

and MT3-MMP were significantly higher in laryngeal cancer tissues than those in para-tumorous tissues （P < 0.01） and had a close relationship with invasive depth （P < 0.05）. But no significantly different expressions of these three MT-MMPs were found in different primary location and different histological grade of laryngeal cancer （P > 0.05）. The expression of MT1-MMP was obviously higher in patients with metastatic lymph nodes than that in patients without metastatic lymph nodes （P < 0.05）. Conclusion MT1

MT2

and MT3-MMP play an important role in the progression of laryngeal cancer

and MT1-MMP may serve as a reliable marker in estimating invasive and metastatic potency of laryngeal cancer. Suppressing expressions of MT1

MT2

and MT3-MMP early may inhibit the invasion and metastases of laryngeal cancer.