Objective To evaluatethe expression and significance of RUNX3 gene and protein in hepatocellular carcinoma.Method Reverse transcription-polymerase chain resction (RT-PCR) and immunoitistochemistry SP method were used to detect the expressions of RUNX3 gene and protein in 23 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and their adjacent non-cancerous tissue.Results The expression of RUNX3 gene and protein were significantly reduced in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue (26.1% and 17.4% respectively),which were prominently lower than those in adjacent non-cancerous tissue:91.3% (21/23) and 87.0% (20/23),P＜0.01.Conclusion The lower-expression of RUNX3 gene and protein may play an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma.