Objective: Expression of heterogeneous nuclear ribonudeoprotein AB (hnRNPAB) is dysregulated in tumorigenesis and tumor progression, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not dear.Methods: We examined hnRNPAB mRNA and protein levels in HCC cell lines with various metastatic potentials and in three independent cohorts of 919 HCC patients.The role of hnRNPAB in the regulation of HCC metastasis was investigated both in vitro and in vivo.By using qRT-PCR, western blotting,immunofluorescence and tissue microarrays, the correlation between hnRNPAB and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) markers were detected in HCCs.Additionally, Chip-PCR and Luciferase reporter assay were used to assess hnRNPABdependent regulation of Snail mRNA transcription.