Objective:To estimate the association between the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk. Methods:We performed a comprehensive search of the PubMed,EMBASE,Wanfang,China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Weipu databases for studies on the relationship of the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism with HCC risk. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated in this meta-analysis. In addition,subgroup analyses by source of populations,HBV infection and smoking status were conducted for further estimation. The source of between-study heterogeneity was also evaluated. Results:Five eligible papers published from 2008 to 2012 with 1 741 HCC cases and 2 596 controls were finally included into the present meta-analysis. ① Meta-analysis of total included studies in Chinese population showed that the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased risk of HCC in all genetic contrast models (ORT vs C = 1.84,95%CI:1.19~2.85,POR = 0.003;ORTT vs CC = 4.71,95%CI:2.14~10.34,POR < 0.001;ORCT vs CC = 1.59,95%CI:1.07~2.36,POR = 0.022;ORTT vs CC+CT = 4.21,95%CI:2.21~8.00,POR < 0.001;ORCT+TT vs CC =1.83,95%CI:1.11~3.00,POR = 0.017). ② Meta-analysis in Guangxi population suggested that individuals carrying the variants of XRCC3 Thr241Met were more susceptible to hepatocellular carcinoma (ORT vs C = 2.23,95%CI:1.32~3.77,POR = 0.003;ORTT vs CC=5.74,95%CI:2.33~14.14,POR < 0.001;ORCT vs CC = 1.91,95%CI:1.23~2.99,POR = 0.004;ORTT vs CC+CT = 4.63,95%CI:2.20~9.76,POR < 0.001;ORCT+TT vs CC =2.29,95%CI:1.26~4.18,POR = 0.007). ③ In subgroup analyses by HBV infection and smoking status,no associations were found between the HBV infection and smoking status and HCC risk. Conclusion:The present meta-analysis suggested an important role of the XRCC3 Thr241Me polymorphism in the risk of developing HCC in Chinese,especially in Guangxi population,but no interactions of gene-environment were observed.