Objective To investigate the relationship of apoptosis, proliferation and its related factors (p53, Fas ) with clinical pathological characteristics in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Apoptosis, nuclear antigen of proliferating cells (PCNA), p53, and Fas proteins were detected by labelling technique of in situ terminal deoxynucleotide transferase and immunohistochemical method on 35 HCC samples. Statistical analysis was employed to evaluate the correlations between the experimental data and clinical pathological characteristics. Results There was no significant difference between the apoptotic index (AI), PCNA index (LI), expressions of p53 and Fas and the age, sexual distinction of patient, and tumor size. Expressions of p53, Fas, and AI were not associated with the histological types of tumor at all. However, the index of PCNA was much higher in poorly differenciatiated type than that in trabecular type and pseudo glandular type of HCC. Importantly, following the advanced Edmondson stages and the TNM stages, p53 expression and LI increased in HCC, but AI showed a lower level at same time. Conclusion The malignancy of HCC is negatively correlated with AI but positively with PCNA. The apoptosis in HCC occurs in a p53-dependent manner. The higher mutant of p53 and the lower regulation of Fas expression may contribute to the genesis and progression of HCC.