The expression levels of HOXA1, HOXA2, HOXA4, HOXA7, HOXA9, HOXB2, HOXB3, HOXB4, HOXB6, HOXC6, HOXC9, HOXC11, HOXC13, HOXD1, HOXD3, HOXD4, HOXD8, HOXD10 and HOXD13 were similar in HCC tissues and adjacent nontumor tissues. The gene discussed is HOXB3; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.