Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA)pr primary hepatocellular carcinoma and analyze the effects of RFA treatment on T lymphocyte subsets, soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), tumor specific growth factor (TSGF) levels, and prognosis. Methods: A total of 48 patients with liver cancer admitted to the cardiovascular department of our hospital from May 2017 to April 2018 were randomized into observation and control groups of 24 patients each. The control group received conventional embolization chemotherapy intervention, and the observation group received RFA in conjunction with conventional embolization chemotherapy. After treatment, the clinical outcomes and complications of the two groups were observed. The changes in T lymphocyte subsets [CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+], sIL-2R, and TSGF in the two groups were compared. Results: The total effective rate of treatment in the observation group was 87.50%, significantly higher than that of the control group, 70.83%, (P<.05); The total incidence of complications in the observation group was 29.17%, significantly lower than that in the control group, 58.33% (P<.05). After treatment, the levels of CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ T cells in the observation group were significantly increased compared with the control group, and the levels of CD8+ cells were significantly decreased from before-treatment levels (P<.05). After treatment, the sIL-2R and TSFG levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<.05). Conclusion: Radiofrequency ablation has a significant clinical effect in the treatment of primary liver cancer that can significantly improve outcomes, effectively regulate the balance of T lymphocyte subsets, reduce sIL-2R and TSGF, and improve the quality of life of patients.