Carbon Ion Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Chinese Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Inclusion Criteria:

1. histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or clinical diagnosis of HCC according to American association for the study of liver diseases （AASLD）-guidelines or clinical diagnosis criteria based on Alpha Fetoprotein （AFP), and radiological images proposed by Liver Cancer Society, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association;
2. no clinically distant metastasis;
3. Child Push score A,technically unresectable, or medically inoperable; maximal tumor size is less than 12 cm;
4. age ≥ 18 and \<80 years of age;
5. Karnofsky Performance Score ≥ 70;
6. No previous invasive cancer (within 5 years before the HCC diagnosis)except for skin non-melanoma cancer or non muscle invasive bladder cancer; Ability to understand character and individual consequences of the clinical trial;
7. Willing to sign the written informed consent; Informed consent must be signed before the enrollment in the trial;

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Distant metastasis (M1);
2. maximal tumor size is more than 12 cm;
3. tumor invading adjacent gastrointestine (T4);
4. Child push score B or C;
5. Previous hepatic radiotherapy;
6. Severe systemic disorders;
7. Previous malignancy (within 5 years) except for skin non-melanoma cancer or 3-year disease free interval from previous malignancy like in situ cervix cancer or non muscle invasive bladder cancer;
8. Non conformity of the radiotherapy dose distribution when compared to the dose constraints;
9. Psychiatric disorders or any other condition that can make unreliable the informed consent;