Amino acid transporters play an important role in supplying organic nutrient to cells. The expression profile of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) and its subunit 4F2 heavy chain (4F2hc) on different differentiation stages in 4-NQO induced rat tongue carcinogenesis was examined using immunohistochemical analysis. The gradually increasing LAT1 and 4F2hc expression detected during the multistep progressive change shows that the protein may have an important role i n the multistep tongue c arcinogenesis. Conclusively, LAT1 and 4F2 hc c an b e a useful b iomarker f or a better understanding of multistep tongue carcinogenesis, while the specific inhibition o f LAT1 and 4F2 hc would be a new rationale for suppressing tumor cell growth in tongue cancer.