Objective To study the expression of the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and its ligands (IGF-1) in squamous cell carcinoma of larynx and adjacent non-neoplastic laryngea tissue. To analyse the role of the IGF-I、IGF-IR in cervical lymph node metastasis and their role in the carcinogenesis and progression of laryngeal squamous carcinoma.  Methods The mRNA and protein expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic laryngea tissue from 29 patients were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry.  Results The mRNA and protein expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R in tumor samples were significantly higher than in adjacent non-neoplastic laryngea tissue (P＜0.001); In tumor samples, their expression were not associated with age, sex, tumor site and T stage(P＞0.05); Their expression were significantly higher in tumors with cervical lymph node metastasis than in tumor without cervical lymph node metastasis (P＜0.001).  Conclusion The expression ofIGF-land IGF-1R may play an important role in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and lymph node metastasis. Expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1R was not associated with age, sex, tumor site and T stage. Their expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma may help us to judge the cervical lymph node metastasis potential of tumor.