Objective: To investigate serum level of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in patients with colorectal cancer and its relationship with colorectal cancer metastasis and prognosis， as well as its potential role being used as a tumor marker for colorectal cancer. Methods: Serum levels of HGF， carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9) were determined in 65 cases of colorectal cancer and 20 cases of healthy volunteers by ELISA assay. Survival rates were caculated by Kaplan-Meier method. Survival analysis of each measured prognostic factor was conducted by Cox proportional hazard model. Results:The serum HGF level in colorectal cancer patients with lymph nodes metastasis， T3-4 stage tumor and liver metastasis was (0.37±0.11)，(0.32±0.29) and (0.43±0.10) ng/mL respectively，and each was significantly higher than that in healthy control ［(0.18±0.07) ng/mL， (P<0.05)］. Univariate analysis showed HGF levels significantly correlated with survival rate in colorectal cancer，and the higher the HGF level，the lower the survival rate. Conclusions:The serum HGF level is significantly associated with the development and metastasis of colorectal cancer, an elevated HGF level indicates a poor prognosis . Serum HGF potentially be used as a clinical indicator to predict metastasis and prognosis of colorectal cancer.