AbstractBackgroundOverexpression of integrin β6 plays an important role in a variety of malignant tumor invasion and metastasis.MethodsThe expression levels of integrin β6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and MMP‐9 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with human follicular thyroid carcinomas. Then we investigated their correlation with clinical outcomes parameters, relationship, and the survival time.ResultsThe integrin β6 staining was expressed in cellular membrane and cytoplasm of follicular thyroid carcinoma cells. The MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 expressions were mainly found in cellular cytoplasm. In correlation with the clinical outcome parameters of 60 patients, there were significant statistical differences of integrin β6, MMP‐2, and MMP‐9 expression levels in different size of tumor. Integrin β6 and MMP‐9 expressions have significant statistical differences in T classifications. MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 expressions have significant statistical differences in different M classification. Other clinical outcome parameters had no significant statistical differences.ConclusionIntegrin β6 expression correlated significantly with MMP‐9 expression, and may be a valuable recurrence indicator for follicular thyroid carcinomas. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 1439–1447, 2015