Objective To study the expressions and clinical prognosis of integrin β1 and MMP-9 in colorectal cancer and their correlations with clinical prognosis. Methods In this study, 52 cases of colorectal carcinoma tissues and 31 specimens of normal colorectal mucosa were collected in our hospital between March 2008 and March 2011. The expressions and distribution of integrin β1 and MMP-9 proteins were examined by immunohistochemical SP method. And then, the relationships of integrin β1 and MMP-9 expressions with clinical pathological features of colorectal cancer were analyzed. After appropriate surgical treatment, the patients accepted a 5-year follow-up for evaluation of their recurrent situation and 5-year survival rate. Results Immunohistochemistry showed that the positive expression rate of integrin β1 in the colorectal carcinoma tissues, adjacent normal colonic tissues and normal colorectal mucosa were 82.69%, 14.29% and 6.45% respectively. The positive expression rate of MMP-9 in the colorectal carcinoma tissues, adjacent normal colonic tissues and normal colorectal mucosa were 80.77%, 16.67% and 9.68% respectively. And the expression levels of integrin β1 and MMP-9 were correlated to the Dukes staging and liver metastasis (P < 0.05). Besides, integrin β1 and MMP-9 expression levels were positively correlated, and they were both negatively correlated to the recurrence rate and 5-year survival rate (P < 0.05). Conclusions Integrin β1 and MMP-9 may be involved in colorectal cancer. And the expression levels of integrin β1 and MMP-9 are in positive correlations with pathological features and tumor metastasis, and both are related to patients' recurrent situation and 5-year survival rate. In addition, they may have the synergic effect in the development of colorectal cancer. All the data showed that the two proteins are likely to be potential targets for treatment and prognosis prediction of colorectal cancer.