Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib combined with tegafur in the treatment of liver cancer after the failure of initial treatment.

Methods A total of 87 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma after the failure of initial treatment were selected, 46 cases were treated with apatinib combined with tegafur (observation group), and 41 cases were treated with tegafur alone (control group).The clinical efficacy, survival, quality of life and adverse reactions were compared between two groups.

Results The objective response rate and disease control rate in observation group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05).The median survival time in observation group were significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05).The improvement rate of life quality in observation group significantly increased compared with that in control group (P < 0.05).The proteinuria, transient transaminase lifts, white blood cells reducing, high blood pressure, diarrhea and esophagitis were the common adverse reactions of apatinib combined with tegafur, and the difference of Ⅲ degrees or more adverse reaction rate between two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Conclusion The apatinib combined with tegafur in the treatment of liver cancer after the failure of initial treatment can improve the short-term efficacy, prolong the survival time and improve the quality of life, the adverse effects is tolerable, and it is worthy of further research and application.