Change in inflammatory cytokine profiles after transarterial chemotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

•There are differences in cytokine levels between HCC patients and healthy controls.•Cytokine changes during TACE are affected by hepatitis, Child class, and HCC stage.•IL-6 and IL-22 rise early after TACE, while Th2 cytokines rise in late phase.•Early-phase increase in IL-6 levels is associated with post-TACE hepatitis.•Late-phase increases in Th2 cytokines imply host immune suppression in large HCC.