Abstract: Objective To determine association between tongue carcinoma and polymorphism of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (PLAU) gene.Methods PLAU genotypes of 97 patients with tongue carcinoma and 91 health controls were examined by the PCR-RFLP method.Statistical analyses included a chi-square test for homogeneity and logistic regression analysis.Results The polymorphism in PLAU gene was rs2227564 C/T.Logistic analyses indicated that compared with CT and TT genotypes,CC genotype was risk factor for development of tongue carcinoma (adjusted OR =1.281,95 % CI 1.098-2.577,P =0.037).Conclusion PLAU polymorphism may be associated with development of tongue carcinoma.