Objective To evaluate argon-helium cryoablation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The clinical data of 66 patients with pathologically-proved HCC were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the therapeutic scheme the patients were divided into TACE group (n=31) and combination group (TACE+argon-helium cryoablation, n=35). All the patients were followed up for 5-35 months. The complete remission rate, total effective rate and survival time were evaluated. The short-term and the long-term effectiveness were compared between the two groups. Results Both the complete remission rate and total effective rate of the combination group were significantly higher than those of TACE group (P<0.05). The median survival time of the combination group was significantly longer than that of TACE group (P=0.038). The half-year, one-year and 2-year overall survival rates of the combination group were higher than those of TACE group, although the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion For the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, argon-helium cryoablation combined with TACE can improve the short-term effect and prolong the progression-free survival time, although its exact effectiveness still needs to be confirmed by large sample, multi-central and randomized controlled studies.