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The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profiles of apoptosis-related protein in oral tongue cancer and the prognostic correlations of this protein with survival and recurrence. METHODS: This study was designed retrospectively using the 33 cases of oral tongue cancer patients with stage I-II operated on during the last 10 years, from March 1995 to February 2000. The expression of apoptosis-related protein was observed by immunohistochemistry and the relationship was observed between ARP and prognosis. RESULTS: ARP displayed a nuclear staining pattern at undifferentiated cancer cells. Positive expression of p53, p63, and Survivin were 93.9%, 84.8%, and 84.8% of the patients, respectively. But positive expression of p73 was 42.4%. Seventeen patients had had recurrence; p53 and p63 had positive correlations with recurrence (p53: pϭ0.001, p63: pϭ0.017) and poor survival (p53: pϭ0.016, p63: pϭ0.001); p73 and survivin expressions had no correlations with recurrence (p73: pϭ0.192, survivin: pϭ0.565) and survival (p73: pϭ0.115, Survivin: pϭ0.645). Although there was no relation statistically, nuclear survivin expression had positive correlations with good survival. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the expression of the mutant p53 and p63 might play an important role in oral tongue tumorigenesis and tumor growth. The expression of mutant p53 and p63 in early stage (I-II) oral tongue cancer correlates with poor prognosis. But the expression of mutant p73 and Survivin is not related with any prognosis. The author cannot use a single prognostic marker in oral tongue cancer but can use p53, p63, and Survivin as multi-interpretation factors. SIGNIFICANCE: The expression of mutant p53 and p63 in early stage (I-II) oral tongue cancer correlates with poor prognosis. But the expression of mutant p73 and Survivin does not correlate with any prognosis.