ObjectiveTo investigate ZEB-1 protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and the relevant significance. MethodsImmunohistochemical method and Western blotting analysis were used to detect the ZEB-1 protein expression in 62 HCC tissues,48 paracancerous cirrhotic tissues and 10 normal liver tissues. The relationship between ZEB-1 protein expression and clinicopathological features of HCC was evaluated. ResultsImmunohistochemical staining showed that the positive rates of ZEB-1 protein expression in HCC tissues and paracancerous cirrhotic tissues were 93.5% (58/62) and 83.3 (40/48), respectively. Western blotting analysis showed that ZEB-1 protein expression in HCC tissues was significantly higher than those in the paracancerous cirrhotic tissues and normal liver tissues (P<0.05). We also found that ZEB-1 expression was significantly correlated with the clinical stage, tumor differentiation degree, metastasis, portal vein tumor thrombus and postoperative recurrence (P<0.05), and was not correlated with the tumor diameter, number of tumors, or serum AFP levels (P>0.05). ConclusionHigh expression of ZEB-1 is correlated with the development and progression of HCC. ZEB-1 might also participate in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of HCC cells, subsequently contributing to the invasion and metastasis.