Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of programmed death-1(PD-1)antibody combined with thymosin α1 and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)in treating primary liver cancer with portal vein tumor throm-bosis(PVTT).Methods Fifty patients with primary liver cancer complicated with portal vein thrombosis admitted for treat-ment from August 2021 to August 2022 were randomly separated into an PD-1 group(n=25)and a control group(n=25)using a random number table method.The control group was treated with thymosin α1 and HAIC,while the PD-1 group was treated with PD-1 antibody combined with thymosin α1 and HAIC.The objective response rate,liver function indica-tors,serum tumor markers,and immune function indicators were compared between the two groups.Results The objective response rate of PD-1 group was higher than that of control group(48.00%vs.20.00%,x2/P=4.367/0.037).After 6 and 12 weeks of treatment,both groups showed an increase in albumin(Alb)level,and PD-1 group was higher than that in control group after 12 weeks of treatment.Both groups showed a decrease in total bilirubin(TBil)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT),and PD-1 group was lower than those in control group after 12 weeks of treatment(t/P=2.897/0.006,3.424/<0.001,2.658/<0.001).After 6 and 12 weeks of treatment,both groups showed a decrease in alpha fetoprotein(AFP)and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2(IGFBP-2),and the PD-1 group was lower than those in control group after 12 weeks of treatment(t/P=3.934/<0.001,5.992/<0.001).After 6 and 12 weeks of treatment,both groups showed a decrease in CD8+,and PD-1 group was lower than the control group after 12 weeks of treatment.CD4+/CD8+increased in both groups,and PD-1 group was higher than the control group after 12 weeks of treatment(t/P=3.110/<0.001,2.414/0.020).Conclusion PD-1 antibody combined with thymosin α1 and HAIC therapy can improve liver and immune functions,reduce AFP level,delay tumor progression,and have great therapeutic effects in patients with primary liver cancer complicated with PVTT.