ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between the expression of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.MethodsHepatocellular carcinoma was screened from liver tumor tissue samples, which was obtained by puncture before transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Immuno-histochemical staining was used to detect the expression of AFP in HCC tissues and the effect of AFP expression in HCC on the effect of chemotherapy was analyzed.ResultsA total of 62 patients met the inclusion criteria, of which 36 were in the chemotherapy resistant group and 26 in the chemotherapy sensitive group. There were 42 patients with positive expression of AFP in tumor tissues (including 29 patients with chemoresistance) and 20 patients with negative expression of AFP in tumor tissues (including 7 patients with chemoresistance). There were no significant difference between the two groups in sex, age, tumor differentiation, Child-Pugh classification of liver function, tumor size, tumor site and hepatitis (P>0.05). In elevated serum AFP level, tumor single, and with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), the proportion of patients in the chemosensitivity group were significantly lower than that in the chemosensitivity group (P<0.05). The results of logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that positive expression of AFP ［OR=0.280, 95%CI (0.092, 0.950), P=0.045］ and PVTT ［OR=0.026, 95%CI (0.004, 0.322), P=0.005］ were independent risk factors for chemotherapeutic resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.ConclusionAFP positive expression in liver tumor tissues and PVTT are useful indicators of resistance to chemotherapy.