Could a common Alzheimer's drug fight liver cancer?

NCT ID NCT06007846

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Inova Health Care Services Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study is testing whether memantine, a drug currently used for Alzheimer's disease, can help slow the growth of liver cancer in people with advanced cirrhosis. The trial will enroll 12 adults with liver cancer that cannot be removed by surgery and who are not candidates for strong chemotherapy. Participants will take memantine daily, and researchers will track how long their cancer stays stable and whether their quality of life changes.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: memantine (Namenda)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new, low-toxicity treatment option for liver cancer patients with advanced cirrhosis who cannot take standard therapies.
What could go wrong: This is a very small, early-phase study (12 people) testing a drug not originally designed for cancer. The results may not apply to a broader population, and the drug may not slow tumor growth.

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.

cirrhosis of liver Fibrosis hepatocellular carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

CIRRHOSIS HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Inova Health Care Service
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Falls Church, Virginia, 22042, United States
Inova Schar Cancer Institute
RECRUITING

Fairfax, Virginia, 22031, United States

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