Abstract:Objective To analyze the effect of ultrasound-guided 125I seed implantation combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on the level of microRNA-363 (miR-363) and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and portal vein tumor thrombus.Methods A total of 100 patients with HCC and portal vein tumor thrombus who were treated in First Affiliated Hospital of Nanyang Medical College from November 2019 to October 2020 were selected and divided into two groups according to the random number table with 50 cases in each group. The TACE group received TACE treatment alone, while the combined group was additionally treated with ultrasound-guided 125I seed implantation on the basis of TACE. The clinical efficacy, serum indicators [miR-363, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)], postoperative complications, prognosis, and Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) score were evaluated.Results The overall effective rate of combined group was higher than that of TACE group (P < 0.05). The differences of miR-363 and ALT before and after treatment were higher in combined group than those in TACE group, while the difference of AFP was lower in the combined group than that in TACE group (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the combined group and the TACE group (P > 0.05). The 1-year survival rate and the recurrence rate at 1 year and 3 years after the operation were not different between the two groups (P > 0.05), while the 3-year survival rate of the combined group was higher than that of the TACE group (P < 0.05). Besides, the differences in GQOLI-74 scores before and after the treatment of the combined group were higher than those of the TACE group (P < 0.05).Conclusions Ultrasound-guided 125I seed implantation combined with TACE exhibits better therapeutic efficacy in HCC with portal vein tumor thrombus. It can enhance the liver function, upregulate miR-363 level, and improve the quality of life, with a positive effect on the medium-term prognosis and a lower risk of complications.