AIM: To investigate the expression of several important molecules involved in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I presentation pathway in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to determine whether cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) vaccine therapy was suitable for HCC. METHODS: Labeled streptavidin biotin (LSAB) method of immunohisto-chemistry was used to study 33 HCC tissue specimens.RESULTS: Most HCC tissues and adjacent histologicalnormal hepatocytes expressed HLA-I antigens,TAP, andB7, expression of B7 was especially strong, and therewas no significant difference between them (P＞0.05).CONCLUSION: The MHC class I presentation pathway in primary hepatocellular carcinoma may not be abnormal or dysfunctional, and CTL could kill these tumor cells.Thus, it is suitable and practicable to design and construct CTL vaccine against HCC.