To explore the prognostic factors of primary liver cancer (PLC) patients in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) intermediate and advanced stage treated with TACE and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Clinical data of 66 patients with PLC who received TACE combined with RFA in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2011 to July 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received. Among them, 52 patients were male and 14 female, aged 41-79 years, with a median age of 59 years. 49 patients were assessed with Child-Pugh grade A liver function and 17 cases grade B. 27 cases were classified as BCLC stage B and 39 cases stage C. The prognostic factors were analyzed by univariate Kaplan-Meier survival curve and multivariate Cox's regression analysis.

The median overall survival (OS) and median progression-free survival (PFS) of patients were 26(9-65) months and 15(3-58) months, respectively. Multivariate Cox's regression analysis showed that portal vein tumor thrombus was an independent risk factor for OS and PFS (HR=6.147, 6.421; P<0.05). Multiple RFA and tegafur treatment were the independent protective factors for PFS (HR=0.199, 0.259; P<0.05).

Proper increase RFA and tegafur treatment are beneficial to control the tumor progression of PLC patients in BCLC intermediate and advanced stage after TACE combined with RFA. Portal vein tumor thrombus is an independent risk factor for clinical prognosis of patients, which should be prevented with active interventions.