BACKGROUND: E-cadherin is an epithelial cell adhesion molecule, and decreased E-cadherin expression in liver cancer is associated with poor prognosis. A -160 C→A polymorphism in the promoter region of E-cadherin has been reported to decrease gene transcription. This allelic variation may be a potential genetic marker for identifying those individuals at higher risk for invasive/metastatic disease. METHODS: The effect of E-cadherin gene polymorphism on risk of tumor recurrence was studied in 93 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation, and determined whether this polymorphism is a biomarker for the risk of tumor recurrence. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies in the patients with recurrence were C/C: 0.667, C/A: 0.311, and A/A: 0.022, and in the patients without recurrence C/C: 0.604, C/A: 0.271 and A/A: 0.125. No significant difference was found between the two groups (P=0.171). Between -160 C→A polymorphism and the clinicopathological data, there were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of the parameters as to age, gender, portalvein tumor thrombi, preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level, tumor size, or histopathological grading (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show no association exists between the E-cadherin genotype and the risk of tumor recurrence in Chinese patients with HCC. BACKGROUND: E-cadherin is an epithelial cell adhesion molecule, and decreased E-cadherin expression in liver cancer is associated with poor prognosis. A-160 C → A polymorphism in the promoter region of E-cadherin has been reported to decrease gene transcription. METHODS: The effect of E-cadherin gene polymorphism on risk of tumor recurrence was studied in 93 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation, and determined whether this polymorphism is a biomarker for the risk of tumor recurrence. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies in the patients with recurrence were C / C: 0.667, C / A: 0.311, and A / A: 0.022, and in the Between non-recurrence C / C: 0.604, C / A: 0.271 and A / A: 0.125. Between significant difference was found between the two groups (P = 0.171). Between -160 C → A polymorphism and the clinicopathological data, there were no dys significant differences in the distribution of the parameters as to age, gender, portal vein tumor thrombi, preoperative alpha-fetoprotein level, tumor size, or histopathological grading (P> 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show no association exists between the E-cadherin genotype and the risk of tumor recurrence in Chinese patients with HCC.