Objective：To investigate the mechanism of adriamycininduced apoptosis of hepatic carcinoma HCC9204 cells, and study the expression of apoptosisassociated genes Bcl2 and Bax. Methods：TUNEL method and flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of adriamycin on the multiplication cycle of human hepatic cancer ACC9204 cells, and the cell apoptosis. The expression of Bel2 and Bax protein in ACC9204 cells was examined. Results：Adriamycin markedly induced apoptosis of HCC9204 cells, and typical characteristics of apoptosis were detected by staining. On cell cytometric analysis 24h after drug treatment, a significant subG1 peak was detected. HCC9204 cells treated with adriamycin showed significant down regulation of Bel2 protein expression, but it was not significantly different from that of the control group(P>0.05). Conclusions：Adriamycin can induce apoptosis of cancer cells, and this is an important mechanism for its anticancer effect. This effect may be related to the down regulation of Bel2 expression.