Abstract: The present invention provides an effective method for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma in a tested tissue, which comprises the step of measuring the expression level(s), in the tested tissue, of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of plasminogen gene, EST51549, retinol-binding protein 4 gene and organic anion transporter C gene, and a method comprising the step of measuring, in the tested tissue, the expression level(s) of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of plasminogen gene, EST51549, retinol-binding protein 4 gene and organic anion transporter C gene, and, in the tested tissue, at least one gene selected from the group consisting of aldolase B gene, carbamyl phosphate synthase 1 gene, albumin gene and cytochrome P450 subfamily 2E1 gene.