Objective: To investigate the microRNA-497(miR-497) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and its significance. Methods: Forty HCC and their adjacent tissue specimens were collected, and the miR-497 expression in these specimens were measured by qRT-PCR method. Human HCC SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with miR-497 mimic, and then their proliferation ability and apoptosis level were determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry technique, and the mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-w as a potential target of miR-497 were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results: The expression level of miR-497 in HCC tissues was significantly lower than that in the adjacent tissues (1.181±0.779 vs. 14.599±5.266, P<0.05). In SMMC-7721 cells transfected with miR-497 mimic, the cell proliferation was decreased while cell apoptosis was increased, and both mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-w were reduced significantly (all P<0.05 vs. untransfected SMMC-7721 cells). Conclusion: The miR-497 expression is down-regulated in HCC tissues, which may probably result in the increased expression of its target gene Bcl-w and then promote the occurrence and development of the tumor.