In the present study we assessed the expression of PPARα mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and non-cancerous tissues, as well as the expression of target genes of PPARα, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) and cyclin D1 mRNAs, to clarify one part of the relationship between carcinogenesis and the energy metabolism characteristics of liver cancer cells. The gene discussed is CPT1A; the disease is liver cancer.