\[Abstract\] Objective To investigate the expression of ankyrin repeats in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) and its clinical significance. Methods The expression of gankyrin protein was detected by immunohistochemical method in 55 OSCC specimens and the corresponding paracancer nontumor tissues; the differential expression of gankyrin protein was analyzed in OSCC specimens of different pathological characteristics; we also analyzed the possible clinical value of the differential expression. Results Expression of gankyrin in the OSCC tissues was significantly stronger than that in the corresponding paracancer nontumor tissues (P=0.000). Gankyrin protein expression was significantly different between OSCC tissues of high,low and moderate differentiation (P=0.006). We also found that the expression of gankyrin was not associated with the sex, age, or lymphatic status of OSCC patients. Conclusion Gankyrin protein is overexpressed in OSCC tissues,which might be related to the differentiation degree of OSCC.