We showed that CXCL8 expression was up-regulated in tissues with liver cancer, exogenous administration and overexpression of CXCL8 significantly facilitated to the malignant phenotypes of HepG2 cells by regulating tumor-specific protein expression including ERK1/2, survivin, caspase-3 and BAX. The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is liver cancer.