Objective: The aim is to examine the expression of Paired related homeobox1 (Prrx1) and investigate the mechanism of Prrx1 contributing to the invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC).Methods: Prrx1 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in 30 tissue samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma.Ectopic Prrx1 expression was created by introducing a Prrx1 construct and endogenous Prrx1 expression was blocked by Prrx1 siRNA in Tca8113 and CAL27 cell lines.Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related markers, E-cadherin, Vimentin and N-cadherin were examined by Western blot, RT-PCR, and immunofluoresence.Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by MTT and flow cytometry assays, and migration and invasion were measured by wound healing and transwell assay.Soft agar assay, sphere forming assay and flow cytometry for CD 133 and CD44 were used to assess the stemness.