Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of external local high frequency thermotherapy (ELHFT) and radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods 66 patients with advanced HCC were enrolled in this study, and were randomly divided into control and observation group, with 33 cases in each group. The patients in the control received three-dimensional conformal therapy/intensity modulated radiation therapy (3D-CRT/IMRT), and those in the observation received ELHFT and 3D-CRT/IMRT. All patients were followed-up for 12 months.Results The Objective remission rate in the observation group was 63.6%, significantly higher than 35.5%(P＜0.05) in the control; after treatment, serum alpha-fetoprotein heterogeneity L3 level was (4.2±1.0)ng/ml, Golgi protein-73 level was (55.1±2.6)ng/ml, and vascular endothelial growth factor level was (200.5±55.7)pg/ml, all significantly lower than [(5.9±0.9)ng/ml, (62.1±3.5)ng/ml and (265.7±60.3)pg/ml, respectively, P＜0.05] in the control; the incidence of radiation- induced liver injury in the observation was 21.2%, much lower than 45.2%(P＜0.05) in the control; the median overall survival (OS) in the observation group was 8(95%CI:7-9)m, and the 1-year cumulative survival rate (CSR) was 14.3%, and the median OS in the control was 6(95%CI:6-7)m and the 1-year CSR was 11.8%(x²=1.674,P=0.171).Conclusion The ELHFT and radiotherapy might improve the survival in patients with advanced HCC, which needs further clinical investigation.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, High frequency thermotherapy, Radiotherapy, Therapy