肝动脉栓塞化疗（TACE）是治疗晚期肝癌的主要手段，但其远期疗效欠佳，且缺乏精确筛选受益人群的指标。申请者对此开展了系列研究，主要成绩如下：①揭示动脉化疗是决定TACE疗效的关键因素，提出了联合化疗新方案，证明其显著延长了患者生存（唯一通讯：JNCI）；②阐明对于多发性肝癌，TACE有助于发现隐匿的病灶、精确判断是否适合手术切除（唯一通讯：Radiology）；证实即使对合并大血管癌栓的肝癌，TACE仍是安全有效的治疗手段；③发现肝癌MEP1A基因的表达水平可显著影响TACE疗效，进而证明了它是一个驱动肝癌侵袭、转移和耐药的关键基因（唯一通讯：Hepatology）；同时确定了外周血单个核细胞一组基因标签可用于监测肝癌发生。上述结果为精准实施TACE提供了理论依据，为肝癌治疗提供了潜在新靶点，被四项国际共识与指南采纳。拟开展：MEP1A调控肝癌微血管形态异常的机制及其对TACE疗效的影响。

Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) is the most widely used palliative treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its long-term efficacy is limited. Moreover, the indicators to precisely identify idealistic candidates for TACE remain unclear. Therefore, we carried out a series of research and the results are as follows. First, we demonstrated that chemolipiodolization was the key to determine the therapeutic effect of TACE. Thus we put forward a new regimen of combination chemotherapy which remarkably prolongs the survival of HCC patients (Independent Corresponding Author: JNCI). Second, we elaborated that TACE helps discover tiny lesions in patients with multiple HCCs and precisely select optimal candidates for hepatic resection (Independent Corresponding Author: Radiology). TACE was also proved to be safe and feasible in HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis. Third, we discovered that the expression level of MEP1A in HCC significantly affects the survival of patients who have undergone TACE. Further study showed that MEP1A plays an important role in promoting tumor progression, invasion and drug resistance (Independent Corresponding Author: Hepatology). We also developed a set of gene signature in peripheral blood mononuclear cells that can monitor the oncogenesis of HCC. These results, which provide a theorectical basis for the precise implementation of TACE and potential targets for HCC treatments, have been adopted by four international consensuses and guidelines. Research to be carried out: the mechanism of MEP1A regulating abnormal microvascular morphology in HCC and its influence on the efficacy of TACE.