Objective To investigate the effect of TGF ? 1 and TGF ? on hepatic apoptosis in hepatocelluler carcinoma (HCC) after transcather arterial chemoembolization (TACE).Methods The specimens were surgically obtained from 36 patients who had been treated by TACE (TACE group) and 19 patients without any treatments (no TACE group). Expression of TGF ? 1 and TGF ? in HCC tissues was detected by immunohistochemical method. Apoptosis was detected by ISEL method.Results Expression rates of TGF ? 1 in HCC tissues of TACE group and no TACE group were 86.11% and 36.84% respectively.expression rates of TGF ? in HCC tissues of TACE group and on TACE group were 0.0088 and 0.1901 respectively.Conclusions After TACE, the expression of TGF ? 1 was enhanced to accelerate the hepatic apoptosis in HCC.TGF ? was mainly related to the cell proliferation in HCC.That the expression of TGF ? was inhibited after TACE might accelerate the hepatic apoptosis of HCC.