The differential-display reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) method was utilised to find genes differentially expressed at the messenger RNA level in SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells treated and not treated with all-trans-retinoic acid, a differentiation inducer of the cell. Human transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) was discovered to be decreased on the 3rd day after the cells had been treated with retinoic acid and increased by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which stimulated the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. It was also found that the transcription of TFIIB in SMMC-7721 cell had no relationship to the cell cycle.