New painkiller may replace opioids in liver cancer procedure

NCT ID NCT07034950

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tests esketamine, a drug related to ketamine, to control pain during a procedure that destroys liver tumors with heat. The goal is to find the right dose that works without needing opioids, which can cause breathing problems. 79 adults with liver cancer will receive esketamine during the procedure, and researchers will monitor their pain and breathing safety.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

esketamine

What this could lead to

If successful, this could provide a safer, opioid-free way to manage pain during liver tumor ablation, reducing breathing complications.

What could go wrong

This is an early-phase dose-finding study with only 79 participants. The results may not apply to all patients, and esketamine itself can cause side effects like dizziness or nausea.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

carcinoma of liver and intrahepatic biliary tract liver and intrahepatic bile duct neoplasm liver cancer Liver Neoplasms Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhenhai Road, Xiamen, China

    Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, China