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Metastasis is the key issue for conquering cancer; molecular events of metastasis are important for controlling metastasis. Based on 15 years of studies on molecular events of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis, several points have attracted attention: (1) In addition to the traditional ˵clonal selection″ concept, we found that metastatic potential of HCC originated from primary tumor, even in small HCC. (2) Many HCC metastasis-related molecules have been identified, but most of them are similar to that of other cancers. (3) Microenvironment, including endothelium of tumor vessel and surrounding liver parenchyma, plays important role for HCC metastasis. (4) Predictive biomarkers may vary from different phenotypes of HCC, the sensitivity and specificity is therefore limited. (5) HCC metastasis is a highly selective dynamic process; the metastatic potentials as well as metastatic targets will be influenced by microenvironment and host status. (6) Prevention and treatment of HCC metastasis remain a great challenge. We should focus not only on molecular targeting, but also on the clinically available agents that are of interventional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]