Objective To investigate the short term effect of licartin transarterial infusion in combination with chemoembolization (LTACE) and compare its effect with conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods Seventy-two cases of advanced HCC were included in this analysis.There were 50 males and 22 females with the average age of (58±12) yrs (range 34-86 yrs).Twenty-nine patients received LTACE treatment while the other forty three patients received conventional TACE treatment.Before intervention,there was no variation (P>0.05) in gender (X2 =0.202),Child-Pugh grading for hepatic function (X2=2.428),as well as in white blood cell count (t=1.101)and platelet count (t =0.080) between the two groups except for age and portal vein thrombosis.For LTACE group,30 minutes after the infusion of licartin (27.75 MBq/kg) into proper hepatic artery,an emulsion of 40 rag pharmorubicin and 30 ml uhrafluid lipidol was infused until hemostasis within target artery.For TACE group,only an emulsion of 40 nag pharmorubicin and 30ml uhrafluid lipidol was infused until hemostasis within target artery.Following these interventions,the two groups were given the same treatment to stabilize hepatic function and relief embolization-relating symptoms; Patients' follow-up included clinical symptoms and signs,hepatic and renal function,peripheral blood test,CT and radionuclide study(ECT).All data were analyzed with SPSS 11.5.Measurement data were expressed with mean and processed by t test; numeration data were processed by Chi square test and Fisher precise test; Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test were applied for comparing the survival rate of the two groups.P <0.05 means the exist of a statistic variation.Results After treatment,there was no variation of Albumin,GPT,serum bilirubin,white blood cell,platelet and serum creatinine level between the two groups [t=0.250,0.907,0.629,0.005,0.250,0.453 (7 days) and 0.978,1.250,1.942,0.733,0.315,1.243 (14 days); P >0.05].ECT imaging demonstrated a 55.17% (16/29) uptake ratio of licartin within tumor areas by the time of 7-days follow-up study.The lesions in both LTACE and TACE groups exhibited a decrease in their size and statistically significant difference was demonstrated before and after treatment in either group( t=7.207,8.006,P <0.01).But between the two groups,the tumor size reduction showed no statistical difference,the tumor size in LTACE and TACE groups were( 1.68±0.32),(1.74±0.31)respectively (t =0.786,P>0.05)before treatment and(1.52±0.38),(1.61±0.36) respectively(t=0.891,P>0.05) after treatment.There was no variation between the two groups comparing the 6 months cumulative survival rate(LTACE 52%,TACE 76%,log-rank test,X2=3.080,P >0.05).Conclusion There was no statistically significant differences between LTACE and TACE groups concerning the short term effect and adverse reaction for treatment of advanced HCC.The long term outcomes should be established on the basis of a large-sample,multiconter,randomized trail.