Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic effect of artesunate polylactic acid microspheres(ART-PLA-MS) with chemoembolization on hepatic tumor of rabbit VX2. METHODS VX2 tumor pieces were surgically implanted into the left liver lobe of New Zealand white rabbits. Two weeks later, 40 rabbits with experimental hepatic tumors diagnosed by CT were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 rabbits in each group. All rabbits were dealed with superselective hepatic arterial catheterization with micro-catheter technique via femoral artery. The rabbits in ART-PLA-MS group were infused with 76.0 mg·kg^-1 ART-PLA-MS. In ART solution group, the rabbits were infused with 23.4 mg·kg^-1 ART solution. In blank MS group, the rabbits were given 52.6 mg·kg^-1 blank MS. In control group, the rabbits were given 2 ml Compound Diatrzoatc Meglumlne. The common conditions of the rabbits were observed daily after operation. Two weeks after treatment, all the experimental rabbits were sacrificed and the volume and necrotic area of the implanted tumor were measured. Blood of all the experimental rabbits were got before and the first, third and seventh day after the treatment for detection of ALT, AST, BUN and Cr. RESULTS There were no significant difference in tumors’ volume among 4 groups at 1 day before operation. Two weeks after treatment, compared with other 3 groups, the average volume, the growth rate and necrotic rate of the implanted tumors in ART-PLA-MS group were significantly different(P<0.01). The average volume, necrotic rate of the implanted tumor were significantly different between blank MS group and control group(P<0.01), and the growth rate was different between this two groups(P<0.05). Between blank MS group and ART solution group, the necrotic rate of the implanted tumor was significantly different(P<0.01), the average volume and the growth rate were different(P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in ART solution group and control group. There were no significant difference in ALT, AST, BUN and Cr among 4 groups before operation. ALT, AST, BUN and Cr were significantly increased in the first and third day in ART-PLA-MS group, ART solution group and blank MS group after operation(P<0.05), and recovered in the seventh day. CONCLUSION The artesunate polylactic acid microspheres with chemoembolization has significant therapeutic effect on hepatic tumor of rabbit VX2.