Objective To investigate the correlations of serum levels of VEGF, HIF-1 alpha, CRP level and HCC recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after TACE operation. Methods Sixty cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with TACE manner treatment (hepatocellular carcinoma group) and 60 patients with benign liver lesions (control group) were selected and involved in this study. The serum levels of VEGF, HIF-1 alpha and CRP in hepatocellular carcinoma group after one week of TACE operation and in control group were detected. The relationship between VEGF, HIF-1 alpha, CRP and recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was analyzed. Results The serum VEGF, HIF-1 alpha and CRP levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The increase of VEGF, HIF-1 alpha, CRP levels were correlated with HCC recurrence exists (P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity between VEGF and recurrence of HCC were 81.25% and 73.4%. The sensitivity and specificity between HIF-1 alpha and recurrence of HCC were 79.6% and 83.3%. The sensitivity and specificity between CRP and recurrence of HCC were 69.4% and 71.4%. Conclusion The serum VEGF, HIF-1 alpha and CRP levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after operation could predict the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.