ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between mdr1 gene expression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pathological characteristics,chemotherapy and prognosis. MethodsThe mdr1 gene expression of HCC in 56 patients with the methods of immunohistochemistry was studied. The results were analysed with the pathological data by statistic methods. ResultsThe positive expression of mdr1 gene in cancer tissues and pericancerous tissues of HCC were 30/56(53.6%) and 19/56 (33.9%) respectively. The difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.39,P＜0.05). The positive expression of mdr1 gene in cancer tissues of untreated patients and in recurrent patients were 22/48(45.8%) and 8/8(100%) respectively.The expression of mdr1 gene was not associated with tumor size, number, tumor thrombus, differentiation, HBsAg and liver cirrhosis. The patients with positive mdr1 expression had a shorter survival time than that of negative ones. But the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion The positive expression of mdr1 in HCC is 53.6%. It is not associated with tumor size, number, tumor thrombus, tumor differentiation, HBsAg and liver cirrhosis. There are innate multidrug resistance in HCC.