Objective: To investigate the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK) in cervical squamous cell carcinoma, and analyze its clinical significance and prognosis. Methods: Fifty-seven patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent curative resection between November 2012 and May 2015 in our hospital was retrospectively analysed. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of Rank in tumor and paratumor tissue. The connection between RANK expression and pathological characteristics and clinical feature was analysed. Also, prognostic factors of overall survival and cumulative recurrence rate were analyzed by univariate and multi-logistic regression analysis. Results: RANK protein expression was significantly higher in tumour tissues (7.263±2.349 vs 5.018±2.303, P<0.001) and a high expression of RANK was significantly correlated with FIGO-stage (P=0.047), lymph node metastasis (P=0.011), and lymph vascular space invasion (P=0.002). Patients with high expression of RANK had a significantly lower 5-year overall survival rate (32.14% vs 79.31%, P=0.036) and higher cumulative recurrence rate (64.29% vs 17.24%, P=0.032) than those with low expression. FIGO-stage, lymph node metastasis and RANK staining was prognostic factors of overall survival and cumulative recurrence rate by univariate analysis (P<0.05). FIGO-stage and RANK staining was independent risk factor of overall survival and cumulative recurrence rate by multi-logistic regression analysis (P<0.05). Conclusion: RANK expression is higher in tumor than in paratumor tissues. Overexpression of RANK is closely related to invasion and metastasis. Overexpression of RANK protein suggests poor progress in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.