Background/Aim: Metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) has been previously found to be up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens and cells, favoring epithelialmesenchymal transition. However, the contribution of MMP-7 genotypes to HCC has not been revealed to date. The study aimed to evaluate the contribution of MMP-7 promoter A-181G (rs11568818) and C-153T (rs11568819) genotypes on the risk of HCC in Taiwan, where HCC incidence is extremely high compared to worldwide data. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, MMP-7 genotypes and their association with cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking habits were determined in 298 HCC patients and 889 healthy subjects by a typical polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology. Results: Ever smokers