【Abstract】Objective To explore effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing SOX4 gene on proliferation and invasion ability of hepatoma cells. Methods The siRNA was constructed to transfect into human hepatoma cell line SMMC7721. According to different transfection plasmid, they were divided into siRNASOX4 group and siRNANC group. And blank control group was set up. Realtime quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) was performed to detect SOX4 mRNA in each group. Western blotting (WB) was performed to detect the expression of SOX4 protein. The proliferation ability of hepatoma cells with different transfection time was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The apoptosis rate of hepatoma cells was detected by flow cytometry. The invasion ability of hepatoma cells was detected by Transwell chamber assay. Results After transfection, relative expression quantity of SOX4 mRNA in siRNASOX4 group was lower than that in blank control group and siRNANC group ［(2045±0056) vs (8961±0452), (8321±0512)］ (P＜005). After transfection, expression quantity of SOX4 protein in SOX4 group was lower than that of blank control group and siRNANC group ［(0263±0024) vs (1006±0086), (0999±0079)］ (P＜005). At different transfection time, cell proliferation activity in siRNASOX4 group was lower than that in blank control group and siRNANC group (P＜005). After transfection, apoptosis rate of siRNASOX4 group was higher than that of blank control group and siRNANC group ［(2612±354)% vs (1031±121)%, (997±133)%］ (P＜005). After transfection, ratio of transmembrane cells in siRNASOX4 group was lower than that in blank control group and siRNANC group ［(2563±673)% vs (6012±1054)%, (5997±1161)%］ (P＜005). Conclusion Silencing SOX4 gene by siRNA can reduce proliferation and invasion ability of hepatoma cells, and promote apoptosis of cancer cells.