Abstract: Objective To evaluate the clinical effect and application value of transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization(TACE) combined with percutaneous microwave ablation therapy(PMCT) in patients with advanced liver cancer.Methods Eighty-three patients with stage Ⅱa-Ⅲa liver cancer were divided into two groups.Twenty-eight patients undertook the therapy that combined TACE and PMCT as the therapy group.Fifty-five patients performed only with TACE were enrolled in control group.Patients were treated with TACE first.CT inspection or DSA was performed every 3-4 weeks after treatment.TACE or TACE+PMCT were selected again according to the condition of fistula and tumor.Three continuous treatments was a treatment period.Then the therapeutic effect rates,side effects,rates of recurrence and metastasis,survival time of the two groups were followed up.Results The effect rates were 67.86% and 40.00% in the therapy group and control group respectively(P<0.05).The median survival time,and the 0.5-,1-,1.5-,2-year cumulative survival rate were 30 months,100%,93%,79% and 61% in therapy group respectively,while were 24months,95%,84%,65% and 36% in control group respectively(P<0.05).The 0.5-,1-and 2-year cumulative recurrence and metastasis rate were 7.14%,14.29% and 32.14% in therapy group respectively,while were 9.09%,34.55% and 65.45% in control group respectively(P<0.05).All of patients in the two groups had no severe complications.Eight HAPS in the control group were blocked up with TACE,three of them were recanalized later.Five HAPS in the therapy group were completely blocked,but none of them was recanalized.Conclusions TACE combined with PMCT can safely and effectively treat the patients with advanced liver cancer,and can extend life span,reduce the recurrence rate without increasing side effects.

Key words: Advanced liver cancer, Transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization, Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy, Hepatic artery and portal vein fistula