AIM: To explore the effect of c-myc, Ki-67, MMP-2 and VEGF expression on prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing tumor resection.METHODS: Primary HCC patients underwent tumor resection were retrospectively analysed. The maximum size of the tumor was less than 5 cm, there was only one nodule in each patient. No chemoembolization was performed before resection. They were followed up after resection, and the time of recurrence was recorded. They were divided into 2 groups: group A (15 cases): tumor recurrence within 1 year after tumor resection, and group B (15 cases):with or without tumor recurrence 2 years after tumor resection. Pathological slices were made with tumor waxsample. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed with c-myc, Ki-67, MMP-2 and VEGF monoclonal antibodies.Staining intensity was quantitatively analysed with a pathological diagram-writing analyzing system. The expressing intensity differences of stained molecules in cancer tissue and para-cancer were analysed.RESULTS: c-myc, Ki-67, MMP-2 and VEGF expressing intensities in cancer tissue in group A were higher than those in group B (Pvalues were 0.010, 0.030, 0.022 and 0.004, respectively), but they were not significantly different in para-cancer tissue in groups A and B (Pvalues were 0.334, 0.343, 0.334 and 0.334, respectively).CONCLUSION: The expression of c-myc, Ki-67, MMP-2 and VEGF in cancer tissue is related to the recurrence of HCC after tumor resection.