Objective:To study the protein expression of maspin in the HCC and its correlation with AFP

and to discuss its clincal significance.Methods:the protein expressions of maspin and AFP in the normal liver tissue(NT)

paratumor tissue(PT)and liver tumor tissue(TT)were detected with immunohistoch-emistry and their area densities were measured.A total of30 patients with HCC and 30 patients without HCC in our Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery were as samples from March

2004 to December

2005.Results:(1)The area densities(AD)of maspin protein in the NT

PT and TT were 20 712.48±1 826.28

7 347.40±441.16

85.68±19.81 respectively

but the area densities of AFP protein were 66.00±10.70

7 005.04±335.69

13 094.00±516.32 respectively;the comparion of two was P<0.05;(2)the correlation of maspin and AFP in the NT

PT and TT were compared

the Perason modulus was-0.9815

and r was negative.Conclusion:The protein expression of maspin had the degressive trend in the NT

PT and TT

there was the hightest expression of the maspin protein in the NT while the lowest expression in the TT.But the expression of AFP protein was reverse on the beam.There was the negative correlation between maspin protein and AFP protein.And there was also the negative relativity between maspin protein and the megalative grade of HCC.So maspin may be one of the indicators for the malignant degree of HCC.