Objective To investigate the expression of Shc1 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and its effect on the proliferation and migration of human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cells. Methods The expression of Shc1 in 33 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues was examined by real-time PCR, Western blotting analysis and immunohistochemistry method; the relationship between the expression and clinical features was also analyzed. Shc1 was silenced by RNA interference technique in SMMC-7721 cells to determine its effect on proliferation and migration; MTT assay and wound healing assay were used to examine the effect of Shc1 knockdown on cell vitality and migration. Results Real-time PCR, Western blotting analysis and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that Shc1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in the adjacent tissues (P<0.05); the expression of Shc1 was mainly in the cytoplasma. Shc1 positive rates in the patients without cirrhosis (100%), of Child-Pugh class A before operation (75.9%), AFP-positive before operation (79.2%) and pathology Edmondson Ⅲ/Ⅳ level after operation (84.2%) were significantly higher than those with cirrhosis (54.2%), of Child-Pugh class B or C (0%), AFP-negative (33.3%), and pathology Edmondson Ⅰ/Ⅱ(42.9%, P all <0.05). Shc1 expression silence resulted in significant decrease in the proliferation and migration of SMMC-7721 cells (P<0.05). Conclusion Shc1 is overexpressed in hepatocarcinoma tissue. The expression of Shc1 is associated with cirrhosis, Child-Pugh class, preoperation AFP and pathology Edmondson grades of the hepatocarcinoma. Inhibition of Shc1 expression can inhibit the proliferation and migration of human hepatocarcinoma cell SMMC-7721 in vitro.