OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of Rad52, a homologous recombination repair gene, in tissues of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHOD: The expression of Rad52 was detected with three-step immunohistochemistry technique in tissues of 38 NPC patients and which have the corresponding paracancerous tissues. All of the Rad52 expression and clinical data (gender, age, clinical stage ) were compared and analyzed to conclude the relationship between them. RESULT: The Rad52 expressions were significantly different from NPC tissues to peri-NPC tissues (P < 0.05). It was found by Spearman analysis method that the Rad52 expression decreased with patients'clinical stages (P < 0.05), but has no significant relationship with gender, age, recurrence, and lymphonode metastasis (P > 0.05). The expression of Rad52 influenced the survival time of NPC patients significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The Rad52 expression can be a useful prognostic and treatment factor for NPC patients.