Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combining with air- cooled percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT). Methods: Seventy- one patients with StageⅠa to Ⅲa hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were divided into two groups: 33 patients of the therapeutic alliance group (group A) received a combined treatment of TACE plus PMCT and 38 of the control group (group B) took the TACE only. Patients were treated with TACE first, and after a period of 2 to 4 weeks, a decision for repeated TACE or PMCT would be made based on the AFP reexamination and imageological examinations such as CT or MR. The follow- up time ranged from 5 to 48 months (averaging 25.5 months), including the AFP, liver function, imaging data and complications. Statistical analysis was conducted based on the survival time and recurrence in the follow- ups. (TACE only, n=38). Results: The 1, 2 and 3- year accumulative survival rate were 84.23%,72.29%, and 61.96% in the group A, and were 55.84%, 22.79% and 11.40% in the group B respectively (P<0.05). And the 0.5, 1 and 2- year cumulative recurrence rate were 6.06%, 9.09% and 24.24% in group A, and 7.89%, 31.57% and 60.52% in group B respectively (P<0.05). No severe complication was found in patients with the combined treatment of TACE plus air- cooled PMCT, and impairment of the drugs on liver functions was slight. Five of the 33 cases complicating with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) were treated with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). AVF disappeared in 2 cases but existed in 3, after TAE treatment. The AVF disappeared later in the latter 3 cases after a PMCT was performed. Conclusion: The initial results of the study show that the treatment method of primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) in the group A is safe, effective and feasible, with a better short- term and mediumterm effectiveness. PMCT may offer a new method for treating HCC patients with a complication of AVF.