Objective To investigate the relationship of expressions of cylooxygenase-2(COX-2) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1?(HIF-1?) in hepatocelluar carcinoma(HCC) and the possible antineoplastic mechanism of selective COX-2 inhibitor.Methods The expressions of COX-2 and HIF-1? in 53 cases of HCC tissues were detected immunohistochemically.Western blot was employed to evaluate the effects of variant concentration of COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam on expression of HIF-1? in Cobaltchloride-stimulated SMMC-7721 cell.Results Of 53 tumor tissues,the expression of COX-2 was 22/53(41.5%) strongly positive stained,11/53(20.8%) positive stained,and 20/53(37.7%) negative stained.Meanwhile the expression of HIF-1? was 18/53(34.0%) strongly positive stained,18/53(34.0%)positive stained,17/53((32.1%)) negative stained.The expression of COX-2 was correlated positively with HIF-1? in HCC(r=0.440,P