OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy on the survival and prognosis of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical resection.

METHODSThe data of 130 surgically resected but recurrent HCC patients treated by TACE were reviewed retrospectively. The survival and influencing factors on the prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of these 130 patients were 83.0%, 45.5% and 17.6% respectively (median survival time 2.4 years). Ninty-four of the series were treated with TACE alone, which gave the 1-, 3- year survival rates of 76.4% and 37.1%, respectively (median survival time 2.1 years). Thirty-six out of 130 patients treated with TACE plus percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), the 1-, 3-year survival rates were 100.0% and 66.5% respectively with a median survival time (MST) of 3.5 years. The survival of TACE plus PEI group was significantly better, and the mortality risk was significantly lower than that of TACE alone group (P < 0.05). The mortality risk of those with > 5 cm diameter recurrent tumor or with distant metastasis was significantly higher than those with < or = 5 cm diameter tumor or without metastasis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTACE combined with PEI may improve the survival of recurrent HCC patients.