摘要AIM: To study genetic difference of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)between two hepatocarcinoma cell lines (Hca-F and Hca-P)with diverse metastatic characteristics and the relationship between mtDNA changes in cancer cells and their oncogenic phenotype.METHODS: Mitochondrial DNA D-loop, tRNAMet+Glu+Ile and ND3gene fragments from the hepatocarcinoma cell lines with 1100, 1126 and 534 bp in length respectively were analysed by PCR amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. The D-loop 3' end sequence of the hepatocarcinoma cell lines was determined by sequencing.RESULTS: No amplification fragment length polymorphism and restriction fragment length polymorphism were observed in tRNAMet+Glu+Ile,ND3 and D-loop of mitochondrial DNA of the hepatocarcinoma cells. Sequence differences between Hca-F and Hca-P were found in mtDNA D-loop.CONCLUSION: Deletion mutations of mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment may not play a significant role in carcinogenesis. Genetic difference of mtDNA D-loop between Hca-F and Hca-P, which may reflect the environmental and genetic influences during tumor progression, could be linked to their tumorigenic phenotypes.