AIM: To detect the mRNA expression of tissue factor (TF), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR) in the samples of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adjacent tissue, and to elucidate their association with clinical significance. METHODS: The mRNA levels of TF, u-PA and u-PAR in 27 human HCC tissue samples with their adjacent tissue samples and 27 normal liver tissues were detected by RT-PCR. The relationship between the mRNA expression and their clinic-pathological data were also analyzed. RESULTS: The expressive rate of TF, uPA and uPAR in HCC tissue samples was 62.96% (17/27), 70.37% (19/27), 77.78% (21/27), respectively and relative expression intensity of TF, uPA and uPAR were 0.567?0.268, 0.964?0.458 and 0.784?0.322, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissue group and normal liver group (P