objective:to explore the profiles of hepatoma cell lines－specific gene expression and identify the differential expressed cell apoptosis inhibitory genes for exploring hepatocarcinogenesis and new therapeutic targets. Methods:the profiles of gene expression of hepatoma cell lines bel－7402,hep－3b and fetal liver cells were analyzed by gene chips. The differential expressed cell apoptosis inhibitory genes were screened. The selected candidate genes were confirmed by rt－pcr in three kinds of cell lines and by immunohistochemistry in 20 specimens of hcc and adjacent noncancerous tissues. Results:of the detected 54 614 probe sets,compared with the fetal liver cells,1 452 genes were up－regulated by more than 2 folds and 2 054 genes were down－regulated by more than 2 folds in the hepatoma cell lines bel－7402 and hep－3b,in which 12 differential expressed cell apoptosis inhibitory genes were screened. The results of rt－pcr showed that the expressions of sodd and survivin in hepatoma cell lines were higher than those in fetal liver cells (p < 0.05). The positive rates of sodd and survivin were significantly higher in hcc than in adjacent noncancerous tissues(65% vs. 15%,and 75% vs. 10%,p < 0.05). Conclusion:many cell apoptosis inhibitory genes were up－regulated in hcc,which can inhibit cancer cell apoptosis and promote cancer cell proliferation by effecting tnf pathway,bcl－2 protein expression and so on. Analysis of these genes can provide important clues for disclosing the mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis and supplying possible new therapeutic targets.