Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate ¹²⁵I radioactive seed implantation in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the treatment of patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). Methods 78 patients with PLC were enrolled in our hospital between January 2021 and December 2023, and were divided into two groups, receiving TACE in 39 cases or receiving TACE and ¹²⁵I radioactive seed implantation in another 39 cases. All patients were followed-up until December 2024, and the objective remission rate (ORR) , disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results By end of 3 months after operation, the ORR in the combination group was 87.2%, much higher than 66.7%(P<0.05) in the TACE group, while there was no significant difference as respect to DCR (97.4% vs. 89.7) between the groups (P>0.05); after operation, serum AFP level in the combination group was (349.7±111.9)ng/mL, much lower than [(452.0±147.6)ng/mL, P<0.05] in the TACE group; survival rates in the two groups were 53.8% vs. 71.8%, without significant difference (x²=2.690, P>0.05), while the OS in TACE group was 24.0(16.0, 35.0)m and in combination group was 31.0(22.0, 41.0)m, and the PFS was 22.0(12.0, 33.0)m and 28.0(19.0, 39.0)m, both much longer in the combination group than in the TACE group(Log Rank=5.380, and Log Rank=4.963, P<0.05). Conclusion ¹²⁵I radioactive seed implantation in combination with TACE in the treatment of patients with PLC is efficacious, which might improve short-term tumor control and prolong survival.

Key words: Hepatoma, ¹²⁵I radioactive seed implantation, Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, Therapy