Abstract: Objective 　This study was designed to investigate the expression and significance of COX-2 and the relationship between COX-2 and VEGF in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods 　The expression of COX-2 and VEGF were determined by immunohistochemical method in the samples of hepatocellular carcinoma. Results 　The rate of positive expression COX-2 was 73. 3 %, 81. 3 % and 100 % in HCC tissues with adjacent nontumorous livers and normal hepatic tissue. The well differentiated HCC expressed that the COX-2 protein was st ronger than the moderate and poor differentiate HCC( P < 0. 05) . There was no significant relation-ship between the intensity of COX-2 expression and age, sex, tumor size, tumorcap-sule, presence of portal vein thrombosis and the level of fetoprotein ( P > 0. 05) . COX-2 express-ion was significantly correlated with VEGF expression ( P < 0. 01) and tumor MVD( P < 0. 05) in hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion 　COX-2 may stimulate angiogenesis through VEGF upregulation.