AIM To find out the difference of human primary liver carcinogenesis between Han and minority ethnic patients in Xinjiang.METHODS Expression of p53, c-erbB-2, Hrssp21 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in tumor tissues of 50 patients (Han 38, minority 12 ) with primary hepatic carcinoma was detected by immunohistochemistry (LSAB).RESULTS The positive frequency of p53, cerbB-2, H-rasp21 and PCNA expression was 46.0% (23/50), 70.0% (35/50), 68.0% (34/50)and 82.0% (41/50) in tumor tissues; 4.0% (2/50), 22.0% (11/50), 64.0% (32/50) and 52.0%(26/ 50 ) in peritumors respectively and a significant difference, except for H-rasp21, of oncogene alteration was found (P＜0.05)between tumor and non- tumorous tissues.Combined the three oncogenes alteration, 26%(13/50)tumor tissues had positive immunoreactivity, but in peritumor and normal livers it was negative. The positive rate of p53,c-erbB-2 and H-rasp21 protein expression was 39.5% (15/38), 60.5% (23/38) and 39.5% (15/38) in tumors of Han patients; 66.7% (8/12),100% (12/12) and 75.0% (9/12) in minorities respectively, with statistical difference (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Overexpression of p53, c-erbB-2 and H-rasp21 in human primary liver carcinoma is an important biomarker of genetic alteration.The different frequency of these oncogenetic changes may reflect some environmental or/and ethnic hereditary factors affecting the liver carcinogenesis. The special life style of Han,Uygur, Kazak and Mongolia nationalities in Xinjiang may also be related to the etiopathogenesis of this disease.