Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression level of AEG-1, β-catenin and C-myc in primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods 40 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissue were used as study samples. The clinical and pathological features of liver cancer patients were recorded. The expression level of AEG-1, β-catenin and C-myc were determined by using immunohistochemistry and Western Blot method. Results The expression rate of AEG-1, β-catenin protein and C-myc in primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues were 72.5%, 75.0% and 62.5%; the AOD value score were 0.80 ± 0.07, 0.75 ± 0.06 and 0.69 ± 0.06; and the relative expression level was 1.56 ± 0.12, 1.23 ± 0.11 and 1.15 ± 0.09, respectively. The expression level of three protein were correlated with pathologic stage differentiation and TNM stage (P <0.05). There was no significant correlation with patient's gender, age, tumor size, HBsAg, and preoperative AFP concentration (P> 0.05). Conclusion AEG-1, β-catenin and C-myc might become guidance indexes for malignant hepatocellular carcinoma evaluation, and can be used to assess disease progression and prognosis. The role of AEG-1, β-catenin and C-myc protein in the original recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma onset process pathway may be independent from AFP system.