cTACE	conventional TACE
CTLA-4	cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4
DEM	drug-eluting microparticle
DEM-TACE	drug-eluting microparticle-TACE
DDS	drug-delivery systems
DSM	degradable starch microspheres
ECM	excess extracellular matrix
EPR	enhanced permeability and retention
etherPEs	alkylacylglycerophosphoethanolamines
HCC	Hepatocellular carcinoma
IR	interventional radiology
ORR	objective response rate
OS	overall survival
PD-1	the programmed death receptor 1
PD-L1	programmed death ligand 1
PPLE	peritumoral portal Lipiodol enhancement
PUFAs	polyunsaturated fatty acids
RCT	randomized control trials
RFA	radiofrequency ablation
TACE	transarterial chemoembolization
TIM-3	T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3
TTP	time to progression
VEGF	vascular endothelial growth factors