Objective To study the effects of sFas in hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and chronic hepatitis (CH). Methods The serum sFas was detected in 18 patients with HCC, 12 patients with CH and 6 cases of normal control by ELISA. Results The serum sFas in HCC was obviously increased and had significant difference with the patients of CH and normal control (P<0.01). The serum sFas had positive correlation with the serum TBIL(P<0.01), but negative correlation with the ALB, PTA and the ratio of ALT/AST(P<0.01).Conclusions sFas may resist the occurrence of HCC apoptosis. In CH, sFas has correlation with the severity of CH. The role of sFas in viral hepatitis is uncertain.