New combo therapy may help liver cancer patients bridge to transplant

NCT ID NCT01918683

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This pilot trial is testing whether adding stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to the standard transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) can better control liver cancer in patients waiting for a liver transplant. About 40 patients will be enrolled to see if the combination improves progression-free survival until transplant. The goal is to keep the cancer from growing so patients can successfully receive a new liver.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
What this could lead to: If successful, this combination could help more liver cancer patients stay healthy enough to receive a transplant and improve their chances of a good outcome after surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early pilot study with only 40 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The combination of treatments may also cause side effects like liver damage or fatigue.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA are added.

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.

HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
Loyola University Medical Center

Maywood, Illinois, 60153, United States
Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, Oregon, 97239, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.