New combo therapy aims to boost liver cancer surgery success
NCT ID NCT05701488
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This early-phase trial is testing whether combining two immunotherapy drugs (durvalumab and tremelimumab) with targeted radiation (yttrium-90 microspheres) can safely shrink liver tumors before surgery. About 20 people with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma will receive the combination, then undergo surgery. The main goal is to check for serious side effects, while also looking at how well the tumors respond.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- durvalumab, tremelimumab, and yttrium-90 radioactive microspheres
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a safer and more effective way to shrink liver tumors before surgery, potentially improving outcomes for patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early phase 1 trial with only 20 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The combination of immunotherapy and radiation carries risks of serious side effects, and the treatment may not improve surgical outcomes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, 90048, United States
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Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Could a simple scan and blood test outsmart liver cancer?
- Could a vaccine help fight Hard-to-Treat cancers?
- Could a tailored diet before surgery boost liver cancer recovery?
- Can a new PET tracer light up hidden cancers?
- A new test could reveal how radiation affects the liver
- Can an immunotherapy drug keep liver cancer at bay after surgery?