TACE is widely used in patients with unresectable HCC. However, it is a non-curative approach; thus ,strategies to further improve the survival of these patients are needed. Sorafenib is regarded as standard treatment for advanced HCC. It is the first systemic therapy to demonstrate a significant survival benefit in HCC patients.The hypothesis is that the combination of TACE with sorafenib could improve the survival of patients with unresectable HCC.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients newly diagnosed as HCC according to European Association for Study of the Liver criteria.
• BCLC stage B or C
• Child-Pugh class score≤8
• ECOG performance status ≤2
• Etiology: Hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection
• Written informed consent (approved by the Institutional Review Board [IRB]obtained prior to any study specific screening procedures
• Patient must be able to comply with the protocol
• Age 18-75 years
• Haematology:Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1.5 x 109/L, Platelet count > 50 x 109/L, Haemoglobin > 9 g/dL (may be transfused to maintain or exceed this level) Prothrombin time international normalized ratio < 1.5
• Biochemistry:Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)< 5 x the upper limit of normal,Total bilirubin < 3 x the upper limit of normal,Serum creatinine < 1.5 x the upper limit of normal,Cholinesterase>0.5x the lower limit of normal，Prealbumin>0.5x the lower limit of normal.
• Life expectancy of > 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• BCLC stage D
• Child-Pugh Score≥9
• Clinically severe gastrointestinal bleeding within 4 weeks of the start of treatment
• Preexisting or history of hepatic encephalopathy
• uncontrolled hypertension
• Pregnancy (positive serum pregnancy test) or lactation
• Serious, non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
• Currently or recent (within the 30 days prior to starting study treatment) treatment of another investigational drug or participation in another investigational study
• Clinically significant (i.e. active) cardiovascular disease for example cerebrovascular accidents ( ≤ 6 months prior to study entry), myocardial infarction ( ≤ 6 months prior to study entry), unstable angina, New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade II or greater congestive heart failure, serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
• Evidence of other disease, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination finding, or clinical laboratory finding giving reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that contraindicates use of Sorafenib/TACE or patient at high risk from treatment complications
• Other severe concomitant disease that may reduce life expectancy
• Risk of allergic reactions to the study drugs
• Drug abuse or other physical, psychological , or social problems that may interfere with the participation in the study or evaluation of study results