The invention discloses a gene marker, wherein the gene marker is ERC1. The ERC1 can be used for judging whether a subject carries a risk of suffering from hypopharyngeal carcinoma or not or for judging whether the subject suffers from the hypopharyngeal carcinoma or not. In addition, the ERC1 can be also used for preparing a medicine for treating the hypopharyngeal carcinoma. According to the invention, a novel diagnosis method is provided for the clinical diagnosis of the hypopharyngeal carcinoma at a molecular level; and meanwhile, a new drug target is provided for the gene therapy of the hypopharyngeal carcinoma.