Cellular proliferation indices such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), DNA content index and mitotic figure counts (MFC) were evaluated in 70 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The results showed that there were strong correlations between these indices and histological grading of the carcinoma (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Both PCNA index and MFC were related to the five-year survival rate (P < 0.01). The PCNA labelling index was corresponded with both DNA index and MFC (r = 0.61, P < 0.001; r = 0.76, P < 0.001). Our data suggest that cellular proliferation of laryngeal carcinoma can be reliably assessed with three different methods and these indices can be used as the predictor of tumor malignancy and prognosis.