Abstract:Objective To investigate the expression of Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) and P27 protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its clinical significance. Methods A total of 76 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma mucosa (case group) and 30 cases of normal nasopharyngeal tissue (control group) which were collected in our hospital from March 2012 to January 2016 were involved in this study. Immunohistochemistry was performed for detection of RKIP and P27 protein. Clinical significance of RKIP, P27 protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma including occurrence and development were determined. Results The positive expression rates of RKIP and P27 in the two groups were statistically significant (P?0.05). The positive expression rate of RKIP in the case group (55.26%) was lower than that in the control group (86.67%). The positive expression rate of P27 in the case group (77.63%) was higher than the control group (46.67%); the positive expression rates of RKIP and P27 in lesions of NPC patients with distant or lymph node metastasis, stage III or IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma were significantly lower and higher than those with distant or lymph node metastasis, stage I or II, respectively; the differences were statistically significant (P?0.05). Conclusions Decrease of RKIP and increase of P27 may be associated with the occurrence and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.