OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on the result and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at systemic, cellular, genetic and molecular levels.

METHODSPatients with histologically proven HCC were divided into two groups: 81 patients in Group A undergoing TACE before operation and 58 patients in Group B treated with surgical resection alone. The degree of apoptosis was analyzed by transferase -mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) stain. The expressions of bcl-2, bax, p53, Ki-67 and PCNA proteins were detected by immunohistochemical method. The changes of these markers, tumor necrosis, encapsulation, volume, metastasis, recurrence and cumulative survival in each group were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe more tumor necrosis, apoptosis, encapsulation and tumor shrinkage observed, and the less recurrence resulted from TACE in group A than in group B. The cumulative 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates and median survival time were 84.0%, 67.9%, 40.7%, and 803.3 days in group A patients; they were 72.4%, 55.2%, 24.1%, and 742.5 days in group B patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPreoperative transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is safe and effective as an auxiliary preparatory means before surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma as it may improve the survival of HCC patients.