INTRODUCTIONHCC is the sixth common cancer but the third leading cause of cancer-related death (1).More than 50％ of all HCC patients worldwide are from China alone.The incidence rate of HCC is nearly equal to the mortality rate(1), indicating a highly unmet medical need.Most HCC patients at first diagnosis are already at the BCLC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Staging Classification) stage B or C, not suitable for curative therapy including surgery,ablation, and liver transplantation.The option is TACE (2-4).