Objective:To investigate the expression of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IMP3) and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) in hepatitis B-virus associated hepatocelluar carcinoma (HBV-HCC) and study the correlation between IMP3 and IGF2 as well as their relationship with clinicopathological features of HBV-HCC. Methods:IMP3 and IGF2 were detected in 82 paraffin-embedded tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent benign tissues from HBV-HCC patients by immunohistochemical assay. IMP3 and IGF2 mRNA were detected in selected 32 freezing tissues by Real-time PCR. IMP3 and IGF2 proteins were detected in 4 strong positive and 4 negative immunohistochemical staining tissues by Western blot analysis. Results:IMP3 was expressed in 62.2% HBV-HCC tissues,but not detected in adjacent benign tissues. IGF2 was expressed in 59.8% HBV-HCC tissues and 14.6% adjacent benign tissues. Meanwhile,the expression of IMP3 was significantly correlated with IGF2 expression in HBV-HCC tissues (rn = 0.335,P = 0.002). Additionally,our results showed that IMP3 expression was significantly correlated with TNM 3-4 tumor stage (P = 0.001),Edmondson-Steiner 3-4 tumor grade (P = 0.001),Alpha Fetal Protein (AFP)> 200 ng/ml (P = 0.012) and portal vein tumor thrombus (P = 0.018). Similar to the expression of IMP3,IGF2 expression was significantly correlated with Edmondson-Steiner 3-4 tumor grade (P = 0.001),TNM 3-4 tumor stage (P < 0.001) and portal vein tumor thrombus (P < 0.001). Conclusion:Our results indicate that IMP3 was significantly correlated with IGF2 expression in HBV-HCC and detection of IMP3 and IGF2 was helpful to evaluate the differentiation and progression of HBV-HCC.