Abstract: Objective To detect the expression of astrocyte elevated gene-1 （AEG-1） in oral squamous cell carcinoma （OSCC）， and to investigate the relationship between expression of AEG-1 in OSCC and clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis. Methods The expression of AEG-1 was measured by Western blotting in OSCC cells（CAL27, SCC4, Tca8113, Tb, Ts） and HaCaT cell. At the same time， the expressions of AEG-1 of 87 patients with OSCC and 20 cases of normal oral mucosa were detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between the expression of AEG-1 in OSCC tissues and clinical pathological characteristics were analyzed. The overall survival of OSCC patients was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The factors affecting the prognosis of OSCC patients were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results AEG-1 was high expressed in OSCC cells（CAL27, SCC4, Ts and Tb）. The high-level expression rates of AEG-1 was 51.7％（45／87）and 10.0％（2／20）， respectively in OSCC and normal oral tissues， in which there existed difference statistically （P=0.001）.The expression of AEG-1 was closely correlated with differentiation， clinical stage， T stage and lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis showed AEG-1， clinical stage， T stage and lymph node metastases were prognostic factor of OSCC. Multivariate analysis showed AEG-1 was independent prognostic factors in OSCC（RR=1.948，95％CI：1.013-3.744，P=0.046）. Conclusion The overexpression of AEG-1 might play an important role in the occurrence and development of OSCC， and it can be used as a reference index of the malignant degree and poor prognosis of OSCC.