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OBJECTIVE To investigate the significance and relationship between matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and infiltration of macrophages in the process of invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).METHODS The immunohistochemical SABC method was used to detect the expression of MMP-9 and CD68 (for labeling macrophages) in 42 cases of OSCC and in 10 normal tissues.RESULTS The expression of MMP-9 and macrophage counts in the OSCC cases were significantly higher compared to normal tissues (P＜0.05).The expression of MMP-9 and macrophage counts were related to lymphnode metastasis and the TNM stage (P＜0.05), showing that there was a positive correlation among these parameters (γ= 0.443, P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Both MMP-9 and macrophages may play an important role in the process of invasion and metastasis in OSCC, and this cellular activity may relate to the macrophages which affect the tumor cells and upregulate the expression of MMP-9.