Objective: To observe the therapeutic effects of RFA combined with chemotherapy drug on hepatic VX: carcinoma in rabbits and to explore its mechanism.Methods: 40 rabbit models with VX: carcinoma were used for this study.they were divided into four groups at random.We watched the changes in serolog ALT

diameter of tumor and pathomorphology.And we also utilized terminal deoxynucleotidyl ransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end-labeling and immunohistochemistry to observe the apoptosis and proliferation.Results: ⑴The blood ALT significantly increased at the first day after treatment

then descended at the third day

and at the seventh day it descended to the level of pretreatment stage in group RFA combined with epirubicin.(2) The diameter of tumor showed significant difference between combined treatment and other groups.(3) Two weeks after treatment

the complete necrotic area slightly extended.it was clearly seen that the zone consisted of normal liver constitution

inflammation hyperemia zone and amorphous necrotic constitution by HE staining in combined treatment group.(4) The apoptosis index of the combined treatment group was bigger than that in other groups by TUNEL technology

but the PCNA index in the combined treatment group was lower than other groups.They all had significant difference.There was negative correlation between apoptosis index and PCNA index in the combined treatment group(r=-0.745

P<0.01).Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of RFA combined with chemotherapy drug for treatment of VX2 carcinoma in rabbit model is reliable with little injury to liver function.The mechanism may be that the combined treatment induces the apoptosis and inhibits the cell proliferation.