New liver cancer treatment shows promise in early trial

NCT ID NCT02028949

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This early-stage study tested a chemotherapy drug called idarubicin mixed with a contrast oil (lipiodol) injected directly into the liver artery for people with liver cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. The 15 participants all had cirrhosis. The goal was to find a safe dose and see if this approach could be effective without damaging the liver further.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

idarubicin (Zavedos®) mixed with lipiodol

What this could lead to

If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for liver cancer patients who cannot have surgery, with less toxicity than standard chemoembolisation.

What could go wrong

This is a very early Phase 1 trial with only 15 people, so it is too small to prove effectiveness. The main goal is just to find a safe dose, and side effects are still unknown.

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.

cirrhosis of liver hepatocellular carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • CHU de Dijon

    Dijon, 21079 Cedex, France