Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 75 %-85 % of primary liver malignancies and ranks as the sixth most common and the third highest mortality malignancy worldwide, persisting as a major global health burden, notably in China [1]. Due to its insidious onset, approximately 70 % of HCC patients are diagnosed at middle to advanced stages, missing the chance for surgical resection [2]. While trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) remains the first-line therapy for intermediate-stage HCC [3]…