Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most commonly-seen primary liver cancer in China, with its etiology still not fully understood. Research has shown that many signaling pathways are involved in the development and progression of liver cancer, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, insulin-like growth factors receptor, and so on. The abnormality of these signaling pathways finally leads to cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, and apoptosis tolerance. The current treatment of liver cancer mainly includes drugs, surgery, radiation therapy and immune therapy, but there is still an urgent needs for more effective treatment with less adverse effect. It is hoped that with the progression in the signal pathways of hepatic cancer, anti-tumor treatments with these signal pathways as the targets will cast new lights for liver cancer treatment.