Objective To study the role of homeobox A2(HOXA2) gene in cell growth,cellcycle and apoptosis of hepatoma cells, and discuss the feasibility that HOXA2 gene would be a potential therapy target of hepatoma. Methods Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and revers transcriptional polymerase chain reaction were performed to examine HOXA2 expression in tumorous and non-tumorous tissue of patients was matched with liver cancer. siRNAs were chemically synthesized to interference HOXA2 in PLC/PRF/5 and MHCC-97L cells. Growth curve and soft-agar colony formation assay were performed to evaluate cell growth, and cell cycle and apop-tosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results HOXA2 was upregulated in HCC samples compared with matched non-tumor tissues(P<0.05). Two siRNAs against HOXA2 gene were designed and synthesized to specially knock-down HOXA2 in PLC/PRF/5 and MHCC-97L cells. HOXA2 knockdown inhibited cellular growth and soft-agar colony formation in PLC/PRF/5 and MHCC-97L cells. And Fowcytometry analysis revealed that HOXA2 knock-down by RNA interference could result in G1 arrest and S decrease and promoted cellular apoptosis. ConclusionHOXA2 gene has an important role in cell growth of hepatoma cells.