ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the expressions of fibronectin (FN) and phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on ehromosome ten (PTEN) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and the clinical pathological features. MethodsThe expressions of FN and PTEN were detected by using Western blot and immunohistochemistry respectively in 83 HCC tissues and para-carcinoma tissues, 47 hepatic cirrhosis tissues and 11 normal hepatic tissues. The correlations between the expressions of FN and PTEN and the clinicopathologic features of HCC patients were analyzed. ResultsThe positive expression rate of FN protein in HCC tissues was significantly higher than those in para-carcinoma tissue, normal hepatic tissue, and liver cirrhosis tissues (P<0.05); meanwhile the expression of PTEN was opposite (P<0.05). The positive expression rate of FN protein in para-carcinoma tissues was also obviously higher than that liver cirrhosis tissues and normal hepatic tissues (P<0.05), meanwhile the expression of PTEN was opposite (P<0.05). The positive expression rate of FN protein was higher in HCC tissues with cancer embolus, lymphatic metastasis, positive AFP, and multiple tumor (P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in FN protein expression, gender, age, HBsAg, degree of tumor differentiation, and size of tumor (P>0.05). The positive expression rate of PTEN was lower in HCC tissues with high-medium differentiation, cancer embolus, positive AFP, lymphatic metastasis, and tumor diameter ≥2 cm (P<0.05), there were no statistically significant differences in PTEN expression, gender, age, HBsAg, and the number of tumor (P>0.05). ConclusionsThe abnormal expressions of FN and PTEN in HCC tissues which may play a role in promoting or inhibiting occurrence, development, invasion, and metastasis of HCC. The abnormal expressions of both can be used as molecular biological markers for the malignant degree, invasion, and metastasis of HCC.