AIM:To evaluate the expression of transforming growthfactor-alpha (TGF-α) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and itssignificance.METHODS:Seventy specimens of HCC tissues weredetected by immunohistochemical method.Five specimensof normal human liver tissues were used as control.RESULTS:The TGF-α positive expression rates in HCCand its surrounding tissues were 74.3%(52/70) and88.1%(52/59),respectively.TGF-α positive granules weremainly in the cytoplasm and fewer existed on thekaryotheca.The TGF-α positive expressing rate in welldifferentiated HCC was significantly higher than that inmoderately and poorly differentiated HCC (P<0.05).TheTGF-α positive expression also was observed in intrahepaticbile ducts (part of those were hyperplastic ducts).TheHBsAg positive expression rates in HCC and its surroundingtissues were 21.4%(15/70) and 79.7%(47/59),respectively.HBsAg positive granules were in the cytoplasm,inclusionand on the karyotheca.There was a prominent positivecorrelation between TGF-a and HBsAg expression in HCCsurrounding tissues (P<0.05,γ=0.34).TGF-α was usuallyexisted with HBsAg in regenerated and/or dysplastic livercells.In the five normal liver tissues,TGF-α and HBsAgwere not detectable in hepatocytes and bile ducts.CONCLUSION:Hepatitis B virus infection is closely relatedwith hepatocarcinogenesis.The overexpression of TGF-αin the liver seems to be associated with the regenerationof hepatocytes injured by HBsAg.The continued expressionof TGF-α might lead to dysplasia of liver cells anddevelopment of HCC.Furthermore,TGF-α might play arole in morphogenesis and regeneration of intrahepaticbile ducts. AIM: To evaluate the expression of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and itssignificance. METHODS: Seventy specimens of HCC tissues weredetected by immunohistochemical method. Live specimens of normal Human liver tissues were used as control .RESULTS: The TGF-α positive expression rates in HCC and its surrounding tissues were 74.3% (52/70) and 88.1% (52/59), respectively. The positive expression rate of TGF-α in well-differentiated HCC was significantly higher than that in moderately and poorly differentiated HCC (P <0.05). The TGF-α positive expression rate was also observed in intrahepatic bile ducts (part of those were hyperplastic ducts). The HBsAg positive expression rates in HCC and its surrounding tensions were 21.4% (15/70) and 79.7% (47/59), respectively. HBsAg positive granules were in the cytoplasm, inclusion and on the karyothec a.There was a prominent positive correlation between TGF-a and HBsAg expression in HCCsurrounding tissues (P <0.05, γ = 0.34) .TGF-α was usuallyexisted with HBsAg in regenerated and / or dysplastic liver cells.In the five normal liver tissues, TGF -α and HBsAgwere not detectable in hepatocytes and bile ducts. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B virus infection is closely related with hepatocarcinogenesis. The overexpression of TGF-αin the liver seems to be associated with the regeneration of hepatocytes injured by HBsAg.The continued expression of TGF-α might lead to dysplasia of liver cells and development of HCC. Future Thermo, TGF-alpha might play arole in morphogenesis and regeneration of intrahepatic bile ducts.