Objective To detect the expression and clinicopathological significance of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase tyrosine 397 (FAKpY397) in human squamous cell carcinoma of larynx. Methods The expression of FAK and FAKpY397 in tissues of squamous cell carcinoma of larynx (n=57) and normal laryngeal tissues (n=10) was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The positive expression of FAK and FAKpY397 was 66.7％ and 84.4%, respectively in tissues of squamous cell carcinoma of larynx, and was significantly different from that of normal laryngeal tissues (P＜0.01). The expression of FAK and FAKpY397 was correlated with the clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P＜0.05), but was not related to the age of patients, tumor size and degree of differentiation of carcinoma cells. Conclusion There is high expression of FAK and FAKpY397 in tissues of squamous cell carcinoma of larynx, which may be related to the invasion and metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of larynx.