Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the traditional method for the palliative management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This method will cause tissue hypoxia in area of embolization. Several proangiogenic factors will be induced by the condition of hypoxia. This may have the possibility to promote the proliferation of the residual cancer cells. However, there is no study to clarify this issue. This project will determine the serial changes of serum proangiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin 2), antiangiogenic factor (endostatin) and cathepsin L before and after TACE. These data will be compared with the clinical courses of the patients to obtain the most suitable way in the management of these patients.