Objective:To investigate the expression of miR-125b and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and to analyze their correlation. Methods:Real-time PCR was performed to detect miR-125b expression in HCC,tumor-adjacent tissue and Huh-7,HepG2,L02. Real-time PCR and Western blot were employed to detect the expression of VEGF-A mRNA and protein in HCC,tumor-adjacent tissue. miR-125b mimics was transfected into HepG2 cells and the expression of VEGF-A mRNA and protein were tested with real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively. Results:The expression of miR-125b was down-rengulated in HCC compared to tumor-adjacent tissue(P < 0.05). The expression of miR-125b mRNA in HepG2 cells was also less than to L02 cells(P < 0.05). VEGF-A mRNA and protein were up-regulated HCC and tumor-adjacent tissue compared to normal liver tissue(P < 0.05),which was down-regulated in HepG2 cells after transfection of an miR-125b mimic(P < 0.05). Conclusion:miR-125b is down-regulated,but VEGF-A is up-regulated in HCC,suggesting that the depressed expression of miR-125b promotes the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma by upregulating VEGF-A expression.