INTRODUCTION HCC is the sixth common cancer but the third leading cause of cancer-related death(1).More than50%of all HCC patients worldwide are from China alone.The incidence rate of HCC is nearly equal to the mortality rate(1),indicating a highly unmet medical need.Most HCC patients at first diagnosis are already at the BCLC(Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Staging Classification)stage B or C,not suitable for curative therapy including surgery,ablation,and liver transplantation.