Objective:To detect the expression of miR-30c/snail and the role of miR-30c in hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) invasion. Methods:mRNA expression of miR-30c/snail in HCC samples and cell lines were determined by real-time PCR,while protein expression of snail in HCC tissues and cells were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting assays,respectively. Moreover,invasion of HCC cells was analyzed after transfection with miR-30c mimic or inhibitor. Results:We found that the miR-30c levels were obviously decreased in HCC with vascular metastasis compared with non-metastatic tissues,and the same results were found in the highly metastatic cell line MHCC-97H. Transfection with miR-30c mimic decreased snail expression and reduced the invasion of MHCC-97H cells;however,transfection with miR-30c inhibitor increased the protein level of snail and promoted the invasion of HepG2 cells. Conclusion:Upregulation of miR-30c expression attenuates the invasion of HCC by directly inhibiting snail. A new therapeutic strategy based on miR-30c may prove to be beneficial for HCC patients with invasion or metastasis.