ObjectiveTo evaluate therapeutical effects of Huaier granule combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) following radical resection of primary hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion. MethodsThe clinical data of 45 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion underwent Huaier granule combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) following radical resection from June 2010 to June 2013 in Liaoning Cancer Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into Huaier granule plus TACE treatment group (20 cases) and simple TACE treatment group (25 cases) according to the postoperative treatment of the patients. The immune function (CD4+/CD8+ ratio and IL-2 level), 1and 3-year tumor recurrence rates and 3-year cumulative survival rate were compared between two groups after operation. Result① The CD4+/CD8+ ratio and IL-2 level had no significant differences between the 2 groups before operation (P > 0.05), which in the Huaier granule plus TACE treatment group were significantly higher than those in the simple TACE treatment group (P < 0.05) on month 3, 6, and 12 after operation.② 1and 3-year tumor recurrence rates in the Huaier granule plus TACE treatment group were significantly lower than those in the simple TACE treatment group[15% (3/20) versus 48% (12/25), P < 0.05; 45% (9/20) versus 80% (20/25), P < 0.05]. ③ The 3-year cumulative survival rate was 75% and 68% in the Huaier granule plus TACE treatment group and the simple TACE treatment group, respectively. The survival curve analysis showed that the 3-year survival rate had a decreased trend, which in the Huaier granule plus TACE treatment group was slightly higher than that in the simple TACE treatment group, but the difference had no statistical significance between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionsAlthough the results of this study fails to confirm that Huaier granule plus TACE treatment for primary hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion following radical resection could significantly improve the 3-year cumulative survival rate, it could effectively decrease the recurrence rate. It is needed larger sample size to further explore in future research.