Objective: To investigate the therapeutic measures for unresectable primary liver cancer (PLC).
Methods: The date of 312 unresectable primary liver cancer patients treated from January 1991 to March 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: Of these 312 patients, 73 were treated by cryosurgery-based combined modality therapy, 239 were treated by a TACE-oriented combined modality therapy. 289 patients except 23 were followed for a period of 2 to 156 months. The overall 1-,3- and 5-year survival rate in this series was 74. 0% , 34. 0% and 16. 7% , respectively. The 1-,3-and 5-year survival rate in the cryosurgery group was 64. 4% , 38. 4% and 27. 4% , respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate in the TACE group was 75. 1% , 29. 0% and 10. 0%, respectively.
Conclusion: Treatment for the unresectable primary liver cancer should be individualized and combined with suitable therapeutic modalities.