The intensity of HIF-1α expression was significantly higher in paracancerous tissues than in HCC, mainly due to higher necrosis in the latter, representing the likelihood that there is a very close relationship between a high intensity of HIF-1α expression and active metabolism or hypoxic microenvironment in paracancerous tissues; HIF-1α could therefore be a useful molecular target for gene therapy. This evidence concerns the gene HIF1A and hepatocellular carcinoma.