Objective: To investigate the expression of kinesin family member 15 (KIF15) in liver cancer and its relation with the biological behaviors of liver cancer cells. 
Methods: Using TCGA database, the KIF15 expressions in liver cancer patients with different clinical conditions and its association with the survival rates of liver cancer patients were analyzed. In liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells after down-regulating KIF15 expression, the changes in proliferative ability, cell cycle characteristics and invasion capacity were observed. 
Results: The results of database analysis showed that the more advanced TNM or T stages corresponded to higher KIF15 expression (both P<0.05); The survival rate in liver cancer patients with higher KIF15 expression was significantly lower than that in liver cancer patients with low KIF15 expression (P<0.05). In SMMC-7721 cells after transfection with siKIF15, the proliferative ability was significantly reduced, G0/G1 phase arrest was significantly increased, and the invasion capability was significantly weakened (all P<0.05).
Conclusion: KIF15 expression is closely related to the progression of liver cancer, and the mechanism may probably be associated with its promoting the proliferation and invasion of the liver cancer cells.