Objective         To study the relation between methylation of human runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) gene promoter in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and clinical characteristics of HCC patients.       Methods       Tumor tissue and its adjacent tissue samples were taken from 95 patients of HCC and 20 normal controls

respectively. Of the 95 HCC patients

57 were complicated with cirrhosis and divided into group A (n=36)

group B (n=11) and group C (n=10) according to their liver function Child-Pugh score. Methylation of RUNX3 gene promoter (CpG island) was detected by methylation-specific PCR and its relation with the clinical characteristics of HCC patients was analyzed.       Results      The abnormal methylation of RUNX3 gene promoter (CpG island) was detected in tumor tissue and its adjacent tissue samples from 45.3%（43/95) and 9.5%(9/95) patients

respectively (P0.01)

but not detected in normal liver tissue samples. The methylation of RUNX3 gene promoter (CpG island) was closely correlated with cirrhosis and cancer embolus formation in portal vein (P0.05). The methylation level of RUNX3 gene promoter (CpG island) was significantly higher in group C than in groups A and B (P0.05).       Conclusion      One of the major reasons for the abnormal methylation of RUNX3 gene promoter(CpG island) in HCC patients is the down-regulated expression of CpG island due to its methylation. Abnormal methylation of RUNX3 gene promoter(CpG island) is closely correlated with cirrhosis and cancer embolus formation in portal vein.