AIM: To evaluate the utility of local tumor therapy combined with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) for malignant obstructive biliary disease.METHODS: A total of 233 patients with malignant biliary obstruction were treated in our hospital with PTBD by placement of metallic stents and/or plastic tubes. After PTBD, 49 patients Accepted: brachytherapy or extraradiation therapy or arterial infusion chemotherapy. The patients were followed up with clinical and radiographic evaluation. The survival and stent patency rate were calculated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.RESULTS: Twenty-two patients underwent chemotherapy (11 cases of hepatic carcinoma, 7 cases of pancreatic carcinoma, 4 cases of metastatic lymphadenopathy), and 14 patients received radiotherapy (10 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, 4 cases of pancreatic carcinoma), and 13patients Accepted: brachytherapy (7 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, 3 cases of pancreatic carcinoma, 4 cases of metastatic lymphadenopathy). The survival rate of the local tumor treatment group at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months was 97.96%, 95.92%, 89.80%, and 32.59% respectively,longer than that of the non treatment group. The patency rate at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months was 97.96%, 93.86%,80.93%, and 56.52% respectively. The difference of patency rate was not significant between treatment group and non treatment group.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that local tumor therapy could prolong the survival time of patients with malignant biliary obstruction, and may improve stent patency.