Abstract: Objective To explore the efficacy and mechanism of perfusion embolization combined with microwave in patients with primary liver cancer. Methods 120 cases with primary liver cancer were recruited. Patients in the control group （n=60） were treated with conventional perfusion embolism,and patients in the treatment group（n=60） were given perfusion embolism combined with microwave for four cycles. Treatment efficacy,liver function,immune cell counts and complication were observed. Results The effective rate of treatment group and control group were 80.0% and 50.0% respectively. The complications which occurred in both groups during the treatment included nausea,vomiting,pain,fever and hypohepatia,however,the complication incidence of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group（P<0.05）. In terms of immune cells count, NK cell proportion of patients in the treatment group and control group were （17.99±6.44）% and （18.09±6.30）% respectively,and there was difference in CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg cell proportion between patients of the treatment group （4.44±2.11）% and control group （7.30±3.09）%,P<0.05. AST and ALT of patients in the treatment group and the control group were also significantly different [AST （41.99±16.44） vs （78.09±16.30） U/L;ALT （40.44±12.11） vs （76.30±13.09） U/L,P<0.05 for both]. Conclusion Perfusion embolization combined with microwave therapy leads to improved anti-tumor effect,better recovery in liver function,and reduced complications in patients with primary liver cancer,which is associated with lower activity of regulatory T cells.

Key words: Primary liver cancer, Microwave, Perfusion embolization, Regulatory T cells