Objective:To investigate the expression of Survivin p53 and its relationship with apoptosis、proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). Methods:The expression of Survivin, p53 and the proliferation of tumor cells marked by proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in 42 cases of HCC were assessed by immunohistochemical method. TUNEL was used to detect apoptosis. Results:Survivin protein was expressed in 30 of 42 cases of HCC(71.4%) and in 4 of 34 cases of adjacent cirrhosis tissues(11.8%). Expression of Survivin protein was negative in 10 cases of normal tissues. Survivin protein positive expression rate in HCC was significantly higher than adjacent cirrhosis tissues and normal tissues(P < 0.001). The increased Survivin protein expression in cancer was significantly associated with histological grade(P = 0.003), p53 protein(P = 0.013), survival time(P < 0.05) and the ratio of proliferative index to apoptotic index(P < 0.01), but was not significantly correlated with age, sex, clinical stage, tumor size, metastasis, AFP, HBs-Ag(P > 0.05).Conclusion:There is a marked increased expression of Survivin in HCC, which may play an important role in breaking the balance of proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cells. The correlation between Survivin and p53 expression in HCC indicates that cooperation between Survivin and p53 plays a certain role in occurrence and /or development of HCC.