Abstract: Objective To explore the clinical efficiency and safety of radiofrequency ablation combined with Tegafur,Gimeracil and Oteracil Porassium Capsules(S-1 capsules)for hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Sixty HCC patients included in this study were underwent initial radiofrequency ablation and then they were divided into RFA+S-1 group and RFA control group according to the metronomic chemotherapy either with S-1 or not.The local tumor control and disease free survival outcome between the two groups were compared.Results Follow-up observation showed that the total control rate after 9 months′ treatment was 93.3% in RFA+S-1 group vs.73.4% in RFA control group(P=0.038).During the 18 months of follow up,the median time for disease free survival was 16.25 months in RFA+S-1 group vs.12.25 months in RFA control group(P＜0.001).One-year progression free survival rate in RFA group was 53.3%,which was significantly lower than the RFA + S-1 group(83.3%)(P=0.012).The major complication rate was 13.3%.No procedu rerelated death or severe complications occurred.Conclusion Metronomic chemotherapy with S-1 following initial radiofrequency ablation delays tumor progression and prolongs overall survival of patients with HCC tumors.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Radiofrequency ablation, S-1, Metronomic chemotherapy, Therapeutic evaluation