Abstract: Objective To analyze the short and long-term effects of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy （3D-CRT） combined with TACE versus TACE alone for treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus（PVTT）. Methods Retrieval was performed according to the principles of systemic assessment,then we conducted a meta-analysis to compare 3-DCRT combined with TACE versus TACE alone for treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with PVTT. Results A total of 8 randomized controlled trials were included,and 463 cases receiving 3-DCRT combined with TACE and 386 receiving TACE alone were recruited. Compared with in TACE alone,the 3D-CRT combined with TACE treatment had advantages in tumour therapeutic response [OR 2.871,95%CI（1.426,5.783）,P<0.05],control rate [OR 2.871,95%CI（1.426,5.783）,P<0.05],1-year survival [OR 2.993,95%CI（1.713,5.230）,P<0.05] and 2-year survival [OR 3.054,95%CI（1.170,7.973）,P<0.05]. Conclusion 3D-CRT combined with TACE is better than TACE alone in treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with PVTT,which warrants further study.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Portal vein tumor thrombus, Radiation therapy, Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Meta-analysis