New drug combo shows promise in liver cancer trial
NCT ID NCT05359861
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 30, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This phase 2 trial tested whether adding an experimental drug called SRF388 to a standard two-drug regimen (atezolizumab plus bevacizumab) helps people with advanced liver cancer that hasn't been treated before. The study enrolled 30 adults whose cancer could not be surgically removed and had spread. Researchers compared the triple combination against the standard two drugs plus a placebo to see if it improved progression-free survival and safety.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- SRF388 (an experimental drug) combined with atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this combination could offer a new first-line treatment option for people with advanced liver cancer that cannot be surgically removed.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (30 people) with no results yet. The experimental drug may not improve outcomes over standard therapy, and side effects from the combination could be significant.
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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30 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2022
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
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.
Abbreviated Inclusion Criteria: * ≥ 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent * Unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HCC * No prior systemic treatment for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HCC * BCLC Stage B or Stage C disease * Child-Pugh Class A disease * ≥ 1 measurable lesion per RECIST v1.1 * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 * Laboratory values indicative of adequate organ function as defined in the protocol * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 1 week prior to first dose of study drug * Women of childbearing potential or men with a heterosexual partner of childbearing potential or pregnant must agree to refrain from sexual intercourse or be willing to use effective methods of contraception as defined in the protocol while receiving study drug and for 6 months after the last dose of any study drug Abbreviated Exclusion Criteria: * Currently participating in or has participated in a trial of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment. * Previously received an anti-interleukin (IL)-27 antibody (Ab) or anti-IL-27-targeted therapy. * Received prior systemic therapy for unresectable or metastatic disease. (Note: Prior systemic therapies administered for neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or curative intent (localized disease) are permitted if they were given \> 1 year prior to the development of recurrent or metastatic disease) * Known fibrolamellar HCC histology, sarcomatoid HCC, or mixed cholangiocarcinoma and HCC. * Moderate or severe ascites * Uncontrolled pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or ascites requiring recurrent drainage procedures (once monthly or more frequently) * History of or current hepatic encephalopathy * Unable to undergo disease evaluation with a triphasic CT or MRI because of contrast allergy or other contraindication * Untreated or incompletely treated varices with bleeding or high risk for bleeding. * Symptomatic or untreated brain metastases or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. * Active or history of autoimmune disease or immune deficiency with some exceptions such as controlled thyroid disease, Type 1 diabetes, eczema and other minor skin disorders. * Medical conditions requiring chronic steroid therapy (ie, \> 10 mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent) or anticipates the need for systemic immunosuppressive medications during treatment with study drug * Known active infection with HIV * Known infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV), except for controlled active HBV or fully treated HCV infection as defined by the protocol * Inadequately controlled arterial hypertension
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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
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Ajou University Hospital
Gyeonggi-do, 443-721, South Korea
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Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital - Hualien Tzu Chi Medical Center
Hualien City, 970, Taiwan
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CHA University - Bundang CHA General Hospital (CHA Bundang Medical Center)
Gyeonggi-do, 463-712, South Korea
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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital - Kaohsiung Branch
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
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China Medical University Hospital
Taichung, 40447, Taiwan
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Chonnam National University (CNU) - Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital (CNUHH)
Gwangju, 58128, South Korea
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City of Hope
Duarte, California, 91010, United States
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Daegu Catholic University Medical Center (DCUMC)
Daegu, 705-718, South Korea
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E-Da Cancer Hospital
Kaohsiung City, 82445, Taiwan
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Gangnam Severance Hospital - Cancer Hospital
Seoul, 135-720, South Korea
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Gold Coast Private Hospital
Southport, 4215, Australia
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Henry Ford Hospital
Detroit, Michigan, 48202, United States
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Kaohsiung Medical University - Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital
Kaohsiung City, 807, Taiwan
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Korea University Medical Center - Korea University Anam Hospital
Seoul, 136-705, South Korea
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Louisville VA Medical Center - Robley Rex VA Medical Center
Louisville, Kentucky, 40206, United States
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NYU Langone Medical Center - Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center (NYU Cancer Institute (NYUCI))
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, 10002, Taiwan
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Providence Portland Medical Center
Portland, Oregon, 97213, United States
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Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital
Yangsan, 50612, South Korea
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Royal Melbourne Hospital
Melbourne, Australia
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Sarah Cannon Research Institute - Tennessee Oncology
Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37404, United States
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Sarah Cannon Research Institute - Tennessee Oncology
Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States
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Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Seongnam, 13620, South Korea
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Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) - SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center
Seoul, 156-707, South Korea
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Severance Hospital
Seoul, 03722, South Korea
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St George Hospital -Kogarah
Kogarah, 2217, Australia
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The Alfred Hospital
Melbourne, 3004, Australia
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The Catholic University of Korea - St. Vincent's Hospital
Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 442-723, South Korea
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University of Arizona Cancer Center - North Campus
Tucson, Arizona, 85719, United States
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University of Florida Health Science Center - Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida, 32610, United States
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University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
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University of Michigan Health System (UMHS)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
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University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center - Stephenson Cancer Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
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University of Southern California - Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States
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University of Ulsan College of Medicine - Asan Medical Center (AMC)
Seoul, 138-736, South Korea
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Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48105, United States
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Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System - Manhattan VA Medical Center
New York, New York, 10010, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- New antibody drug conjugate tested against advanced cancers
- Sparing the liver: targeted chemoembolization meets lenvatinib in liver cancer
- AI-Enhanced ultrasound aims to catch liver cancer earlier
- Can turbocharged immune cells stop liver cancer from coming back?
- Two blood markers put to the test for early liver cancer detection
- New antibody pair takes aim at advanced liver cancer in major trial