P>Objective In the present study, levels of STC1 mRNA and STC1 were detected at various stages in rat hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DENA). Methods Eighty SpragueDawley rats were divided into experimental group and the control group. In the experimental rats, the hepatocarcinogenesis was induced with diethylnitrosamine (DENA) through intragastric gavage at a dose of 70 mg/kg body weight, and the control rats were done with distilled water at the same dosage. The cellular changes in liver were determined with histopathological techniques. Both of STC1 mRNA and STC1 level in liver were detected with RT-PCR and Western blotting technique, respectively. Results The results showed that both of STC1 mRNA and STC1 were only detected in liver of rats exposured to DENA. Conclusion The data suggested that there was correlation between the expression of STC1 gene and hepatocarcinogenesis, and implied STC1 as potential novel prognostic marker for detecting human liver cancer. Mammalian stanniocalcin1 (STC1) is a glycoprotein hormone expressed in abroad spectrum of tissues such as kidney, prostate, ovary, etc. Its expression is found to be regulated in numerous developmental, physiological and pathological processes, including pregnancy, lactation, cancer, apoptosis, organogenesis, etc./P>