Abstract: Objective : To identify the relationship between the expression of GGTmRNA-H and hematogenous metastatic spreading of tumor cells in patients with hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC). Methods : We detected the expression of GGTmRNA-H in peripheral blood from patients with or without HCC using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results : GGTmRNA-H was positive in 16 of 38 cases (42.10 ) of HCC but negative in peripheral blood from those with benign liver diseases, other tumors metastatic to liver and healthy volunteers. The presence of GGTm RNA-H in blood correlated with that oi intrahepatic metastasis, potal vein thrombosis and distant metastasis. Conclusions : These findings indicate that the presence of GGTmRNA-H in peripheral blood may be an indicator of circulating HCC cells, which may predict hematogenous metastatic spreading of tumor cells in patients with HCC, and the detection of GGTmRNA-H may play a supplementary role in the diagnosis of HCC with low level of serum AFP.