Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV)infection on proliferation, migration and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells induced by apatinib. 
Methods Human hepatoma HepG2 and HepG2.215 cells induced by apatinib were cultured in vitro. Cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method was used to detect the inhibition of cell proliferation, Cell migration was measured by wound healing assay, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. 
Results After treatment with apatinib, the scratch healing rate of HepG2 cells was significantly lower than that of HepG2.215 cells, while the early apoptosis rate, late apoptosis rate and total apoptosis rate of HepG2 cell group were significantly higher than those of HepG2.215 cell group, showing significant differences (P＜0.05). 
Conclusion HBV affects the efficacy of apatinib mesylate on inhibiting migration and inducing apoptosis of HCC cells. Apatinib may play a better anti-tumor role in non-HBV HCC cells. 

Key words: carcinoma, hepatocellular, apatinib mesylate, hepatitis B virus