Objective To investigate the variety of telomerase activity in the course of liver cancer development, and the possibility of using telomerase as a marker of HCC. Methods Human liver specimens, comprising 22 HCC and adjacent peritumoral tissues, 12 liver cirrhosistissues, 6 nodulat regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) tissues and 10 normal liver tissues, were examined for telomerase activity by TRAP assay based on PCR. Results Twenty of 22 HCC and 14 of 22 adjacent tissue specimens were positive for telomerase activity with a positive rate of 90.9% and 63.6% respectively. Ten of 12 liver cirrhosis tissues were positive with a positive rate of 83.3%. 5 of 6 NRH were positive with a positive rate of 83.3%. Telomerase activity was negative in 10 normal liver tissues. Conclusion Telomerase may occur in the progress of hepatocarcinogenesis. Telomerase can be used as a tumor marker of HCC.