Objective To establish a patient-derived xenografts (PDX) mouse model of liver cancer (LC) and to explore its role in precision medicine. Methods PDX model was established by subcutaneous implantation of tumor tissues in NCG mice. The morphological structure of tumor tissue was exaimed using HE staining. Fifteen BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with tumor cell suspension from the PDX models. The xenograft mice were randomly divided into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) group, sorafenib group and negative control group. The tumor volume and body weight of the tumor-bearing mice were measured regularly, the tumor inhibition rate was calculated and the curative effect was evaluated. Results The success rate was 33.3% (6/18) in the establishment of liver cancer PDX mouse model, and the model well retained the characteristics of the primary tumor. In one case of PDX mouse model, the tumor inhibition rates of 5-FU and sorafenib group were 63.7% and 29.6%, with a statistically significant differece between them (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the sorafenib group and negative control group, consistent with clinical observation. Conclusions The PDX mouse model of liver cancer can maintain the histological structure of primary tumor, and can be applied to precision medicine for patients with liver cancer.