Abstract： Objective To construct transcription profiles of pure hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)and normal liver tissues,and to identify tumor-associated genes with combined use of laser capture microdissection and gene microchip techniques. Methods Four HCC specimens were laser capture microdissected to obtain 4 paired samples of purified HCC and normal tissue cells. Micro-RNA was isolated from these samples and,after linear amplification,hybridization with whole genome microarray was performed to screen for any differential expression genes. Results Comparison between 4 paired samples of HCC and normal tissue identified 1361 differentially expressed genes,with 607 being up-regulated and 754being down-regulated. Among the first ten most up-and down-regulated genes (total 20),there were 5recognized HCC differentially expressed genes(signal ratios:23.252 9,27.372 9,0.014 8,0.019 7,0.019 8),11 genes (signal ratios:32.694 9,28.480 9,23.703 0,21.342 3,19.109 3,17.291 9,0.009 8,0.012 5,0.015 8,0.016 1,0.016 5 ) with altered expressions described elsewhere,and 4 differential expression genes (signal ratios:24.676 1,22.072 2,0.009 7,0.019 1 ) not yet reported in HCC and/or other cancers so far.Conclusion Combined use of laser capture microdissection and gene microchip techniques can be accurate and effective in screening for differentially expressed genes of HCC.