Liver cancer drug combo put to the test – but trial stops early

NCT ID NCT04777851

Terminated Disease control Sponsor: Translational Research in Oncology Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This phase 3 trial compared a combination of two drugs (regorafenib and pembrolizumab) with standard locoregional therapies (TACE or TARE) as a first treatment for intermediate-stage liver cancer that has spread beyond certain limits. The study aimed to enroll about 496 people but was terminated early after only 45 participants. Researchers were looking at how long patients lived without their cancer getting worse.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

regorafenib and pembrolizumab

What this could lead to

If successful, this combination could offer a new first-line treatment option for people with intermediate-stage liver cancer that is not suitable for surgery.

What could go wrong

The trial was terminated early and enrolled only 45 of a planned 496 participants, so results are limited. Both drug combinations carry risks of serious side effects, and it is unclear if the experimental arm is better than existing therapies.

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.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

hepatocellular carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

CARCINOMA, HEPATOCELLULAR

Contacts and locations

Show contact details

Locations

Antwerp University Hospital

Edegem, 2650, Belgium
CHU Amiens-Picardie

Amiens, 80054, France
Center of Oncology Euroclinic Victoria Hospital

Iași, 700106, Romania
Cha Bundang Medical Center

Seongnam-si, South Korea
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital - Linkou

Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
Clinic for Digestive Surgery, University Clinical Center of Serbia

Belgrade, Serbia
Gazi University MF

Ankara, 6560, Turkey (Türkiye)
Gülhane Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi

Ankara, 6010, Turkey (Türkiye)
Hospital Universitario La Paz

Madrid, 28046, Spain
Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet

Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
Humanity and Health Clinical Trial Center

Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong
Hôpital Beaujon - APHP

Clichy, 92110, France
Hôpital Henri Mondor

Créteil, 94010, France
Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital

Busan, South Korea
Institue of Oncology Vojvodine Sremska Kamenica (Oncology Institute of Volvodina)

Kamenitz, 21204, Serbia
Institutul Clinic Fundeni

Bucharest, 22328, Romania
Israel-Georgian Medical Research Clinic Healthycore

Tbilisi, 0112, Georgia
JSC VIANI Batumi Referral Hospital

Batumi, 6010, Georgia
Koc University Hospital

Istanbul, 34010, Turkey (Türkiye)
National Taiwan University Hospital

Taipei, 10041, Taiwan
Ospedale Garibaldi Nesima

Catania, 95122, Italy
Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology "Dr Octavian Fodor"

Cluj-Napoca, 400394, Romania
Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System

Seoul, South Korea
UCL SAINT LUC - UC Louvain

Brussels, 1200, Belgium
UCLA Santa Monica Hematology Oncology

Santa Monica, California, 90404, United States
Universitätsmedizin: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I

Mainz, D-55131, Germany