A new imaging agent could tell doctors which liver cancers will resist immunotherapy
NCT ID NCT04965454
First seen Aug 12, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial is testing whether a special PET/CT scan using 18F-fluorocholine, along with a liquid biopsy, can predict how well patients with inoperable liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) will respond to immunotherapy. The study enrolls adults with this type of liver cancer who cannot have surgery or whose disease has progressed after other treatments. The goal is to see if these biomarkers can accurately identify patients who will not benefit from immunotherapy after 16 weeks, potentially guiding more personalized treatment decisions.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- 18F-fluorocholine, a radioactive imaging agent used with PET/CT scans
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors identify early which liver cancer patients are unlikely to benefit from immunotherapy, sparing them from ineffective treatments and side effects.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 2 trial with a modest number of participants, so the biomarker's accuracy may not hold up in larger, more diverse groups. The imaging agent involves radiation exposure, and the test may not perfectly predict response.
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
-
The Queen's Medical Center
RECRUITINGHonolulu, Hawaii, 96813, United States
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