Abstract: Objective To explore the expression and possible significance of asialoglycoprotein receptor 2（ASGR2） gene in hepato-cellular carcinoma（HCC）. Methods Expression of the ASGR2 gene in peripheral blood was detected by RT-PCR in 55 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma，55 patients with non-HCC tumors，and 33 non-tumor control patients. Results Expression of the ASGR2 gene was detected in significantly more HCC patients （85.5%） than in non-HCC patients （65.5%，P<0.05）；in fact， the rate of positive expression was similar among HCC patients as in non-cancer controls（78.8%，P＞0.05）.Gene expression differed significantly across all three patient groups（P<0.05）.ASGR2 gene expression was not significantly associated with clinicopathological features of HCC，age， AFP，cirrhosis， or cancer family history（P＞0.05）. Conclusion ASGR2 gene expression may be associated with HCC development， and detecting expression may serve as an early predictor of pathogenesis.

Key words: Liver neoplasms, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Asialoglycoprotein receptor 2, Gene, Expression