Can a heart drug help doctors see liver cancer better?

NCT ID NCT07682454

First seen Jul 02, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026

Summary

This study explores whether a special imaging technique called parenchymal blood volume (PBV) imaging can detect changes in blood flow within liver tumors after giving a drug called nitroglycerin. The drug is commonly used for heart conditions but may temporarily increase blood flow to tumors, making them easier to see and treat. About 50 adults with untreated liver cancer will receive nitroglycerin directly into the liver artery during a standard procedure, and researchers will use PBV imaging to measure any changes in tumor blood supply. The goal is to see if this approach can help guide future treatments like chemoembolization.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Nitroglycerin
What this could lead to
If successful, this imaging method could help doctors tailor liver cancer treatments by revealing how tumors respond to blood-flow-altering drugs.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early feasibility study, so results may not apply broadly. The imaging technique is experimental and may not reliably predict treatment outcomes.

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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

  • University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG)

    San Francisco, California, 94110, United States

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

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