Can immunotherapy plus liver treatments open the door to transplants for more cancer patients?
NCT ID NCT07489976
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study is testing whether combining immunotherapy drugs (tremelimumab and durvalumab) with liver-directed procedures like TACE, TARE, or RFA can shrink liver cancer enough to make patients eligible for a liver transplant. The trial enrolls 41 adults with hepatocellular carcinoma that is too advanced for standard transplant criteria. Researchers will track how many patients achieve successful downstaging within 12 months and monitor for side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Tremelimumab and Durvalumab (immunotherapy drugs) combined with liver-directed procedures (TACE, TARE, or RFA)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could help more people with advanced liver cancer become eligible for a life-saving liver transplant.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (Phase 2) with only 41 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Immunotherapy can cause serious side effects, and the combination with liver procedures may increase risks.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 41 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Apr 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2030
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age ≥ 18 at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form. 2. Beyond UCSF criteria HCC with diagnosis confirmed histologically/cytologically, radiologically, or clinically per AASLD criteria, with life expectancy of at least 12 months. 3. Histologically confirmed HCC via liver biopsy obtained within 3 months prior to initiation of study treatment as part of SOC. If no historical biopsy is available, a biopsy must be performed at screening for confirmation. Screening liver biopsy may be conducted as part of research activities if not performed per SOC practice. 4. ECOG performance status ≤ 2 within 7 days prior to initiation of study treatment. Child-Pugh A or B7 (5 to 7 points) at screening and within 7 days prior to study treatment. D1 ECOG/CTP may not repeat if screening ECOG/CTP collected within 7 days prior to D1. 5. HCC with Measurable disease by mRECIST (see Appendix 11.2) (at least one ≥10mm target lesion) that is not suitable for resection per standard clinical practice and beyond UCSF criteria (see section 11.5) confirmed with most recent imaging obtained within 3 months prior to screening. 6. For subjects of childbearing potential (SOCBP), negative serum or urine pregnancy test and agreement to use adequate contraception or abstinence from the time of screening until 3 months following the last dose of Durvalumab. 7. Written informed consent obtained from subject and ability for subject to comply with the requirements of the study. Exclusion Criteria: * 1- Known fibrolamellar HCC, sarcomatoid HCC, other rare HCC variant, or mixed cholangiocarcinoma and HCC. 2- Extrahepatic spread with organ involvement other than liver. 3- Portal vein tumor thrombus (VP3-4) or any viable hepatic vein tumor thrombus at screening. 4- History of immune therapy exposure (and-PD-1, and PDL-1, and anti-CTLA-4) treatment. 5- Is pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or impregnate someone during the study period. 6- Active or history of autoimmune diseases, including, but not limited to, myasthenia gravis, myositis, autoimmune hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Wegener granulomatosis, Sjögren syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, or multiple sclerosis. 7- Patient lacks interest or inadequate psychosocial support for organ transplantation. 8- Patients who have a known concurrent malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment, who have not completely recovered from prior treatment, or who have a significant malignancy history that, in the opinion of the investigator, should preclude participation. 9- History of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, organizing pneumonia (e.g., bronchiolitis obliterans), drug-induced pneumonitis, or idiopathic pneumonitis, or evidence of active pneumonitis on screening chest computed tomography (CT) scan. 10- Active tuberculosis (TB), as documented by a positive purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test or TB blood test and confirmed by a positive chest X-ray within 3 months prior to initiation of study treatment. 11- Active co-infection with HBV and HCV. Participants with a history of HCV infection but who are negative for HCV RNA by PCR will be considered non-infected with HCV. 12- Severe infection within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, including, but not limited to, hospitalization for complications of infection, bacteremia, or severe pneumonia, or any active infection that, in the opinion of the investigator, could impact participant safety. 13- Treatment with investigational therapy within 28 days prior to initiation of study treatment. 14- Treatment with systemic immunostimulatory agents (including, but not limited to, interferon and IL-2) within 4 weeks or 5 drug-elimination half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to initiation of study treatment. 15- Treatment with systemic immunosuppressive medication (including, but not limited to, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, thalidomide, and anti-tumor necrosis factor \[TNF\] agents) within 2 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, or anticipation of need for systemic immunosuppressive medication during study treatment, with the following exceptions: * Participants who received acute, low-dose systemic immunosuppressant medication or a one-time pulse dose of systemic immunosuppressant medication (e.g., 48 hours of corticosteroids for a contrast allergy) are eligible. * Participants who received mineralocorticoids (e.g., fludrocortisone), corticosteroids for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma, or low-dose corticosteroids for orthostatic hypotension or adrenal insufficiency are eligible for the study. 16- Treatment with a live, attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, or anticipation of need for such a vaccine during study treatment, within 5 months after the final dose of ICI. 17- Radiotherapy within 28 days, or abdominal/pelvic radiotherapy within 60 days, prior to initiation of study treatment. 18- Major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to initiation of study treatment; or abdominal surgery, abdominal interventions, or significant abdominal traumatic injury within 60 days prior to initiation of study treatment; anticipation of need for major surgical procedure during the course of the study; or non-recovery from side effects of any such procedure. 19- Any other disease, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination finding, or clinical laboratory finding that contraindicates the use of the study drugs, may affect the interpretation of the results, or may render the participant at high risk from treatment complications
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Cedars Sinai
RECRUITINGLos Angeles, California, 90048, United States
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