Tensins are a new family of proteins that act as an important link among extracellular matrix, actin cytoskeleton, and signal transduction and have been implicated in human cancers. Tensin2 was initially identified in a search for new tensin family members that share extensive sequence homology with tensin1. Tensin2 was highly expressed in liver tissues. A recent study reported that one of the splicing variants of tensin2, variant 3, promotes cell migration. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the role of H epatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major malignancies worldwide and the second most common fatal cancer in Asia and Hong Kong. The molecular mechanisms underlying the development, invasion, and metastasis of HCC are areas of active research. A better understanding of these areas may lead to the development of more effective prognostic markers and potential therapies for HCC. Adhesion proteins including intracellular adhesion molecule 1, 1 E-cadherin, 2 CD44 variants, 3 and extracellular matrix protein, laminin-5 4 have been reported to be biomarkers for an invasive and metastatic phenotype of HCC. Proteinases responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix, for instance, matrix metalloproteinase, 5 urokinase-type plasminogen activator, 6 uPA receptor, and uPA inhibitor, 7 are also important factors involved in the invasiveness and metastasis of HCC. Angiogenesis regulators critical to HCC metastasis has drawn a lot of attention in recent years. Vascular endothelial growth factor, 8 angiopoietin, 9 basic fibroblast growth factor, 10 platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, 11 and thrombospondin 12 have been reported to be angiogenic factors crucial to HCC angiogenesis.Tensin is a new family of focal adhesion proteins that act as an important link among extracellular matrix (ECM), actin cytoskeleton, and signal transduction. 13 Recent studies have revealed that tensin proteins are also implicated in human cancers. Tensin1 is the most wellcharacterized member and best known for its activity in organizing the actin cytoskeleton and mediating signal transduction. 13 Expression of human tensin1 was shown to be down-regulated in prostate and breast cancer cell From the