The survivin positive rate in HCC specimens was 64.7% (11/17); The PCNA labeling index was 2.38 ± 2.11 in 30 liver cirrhosis specimens, while 10.08 ± 12.28 in 30 HCC specimens, the latter was significantly higher than the former, P = 0.003. Here, PCNA is linked to cirrhosis of liver.