【Objective】 To investigate the expression and clinical significance of MMP2 and VEGF in recipient of HCC accepted orthotropic liver transplantation (OLT). 【Methods】 Recipients were divided into 4 groups: the donor group (n = 60)

liver fibrosis group(n = 60)

HCC without tumor thrombi group (n = 45) and HCC with tumor thrombi group(n = 35). The serum concentration of MMP2 and VEGF were assayed by ELISA. The expression of MMP2 mRNA and VEGF mRNA in liver of patients were detected by fluorescent quantization polymerase chain reaction. Recipient of HCC were followed after accepted OLT and the serum concentration of MMP2 and VEGF were assayed by ELISA .【Results】 The serum concentration of MMP2 were 7.2 ± 2.5

30.3 ± 19.5

84.5 ± 45.3

and 151.6 ± 83.6 ng/mL (P < 0.01) in the donor group

liver fibrosis group

HCC without tumor thrombi group and HCC with tumor thrombi group. The serum concentration of VEGF were 155.6 ± 21.7

200.3 ± 73.9

283.7 ± 104.3

and 371.1 ± 99.3 pg/mL (P < 0.01) in the 4 groups. The expression of MMP2 mRNA were 4.9 ± 1.3

7.2 ± 5.5

11.2 ± 7.6

and 19.0 ± 9.2 copy number/μL logarithm value in the 4 groups

the expression of VEGF mRNA were 11.4 ± 2.1

13.5 ± 6.3

19.7 ± 8.4

and 24.7 ± 11.8 copy number/μL logarithm value in the 4 groups(P < 0.01). The recurrence rate of carcinoma in recipient of HCC with tumor thrombi was 66.67%

higher than HCC without tumor thrombi after OLT (P < 0.01). 【Conclusion】 The expression of MMP2 and VEGF are highly correlated with invasion and metastasis in recipients of HCC accepted OLT

which may serve as a parameter for determining tumor metastasis and prognosis. It may be a new idea to choose and supervise the recipient of HCC for OLT.