Experimental liver cancer drug shows promise in early trial

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients must have histologic or cytologic confirmation of primary cancer of the liver, including HCC or adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder or bile ducts and advanced (unresectable and/or metastatic) disease. 2. Patients must have at least one measurable lesion by RECIST criteria. 3. Patients may have received up to two prior systemic non-cytotoxic regimens for their disease. Prior treatment with immunologic and/or biologic agents is allowed. 4. At least 6 weeks (42 days) since any prior immunologic or biologic therapy. 5. At least 4 weeks (28 days) since prior radiotherapy to \>20% of the bone marrow or prior adjuvant chemotherapy. 6. Lesions being used to assess disease status may not have been radiated or if so, must have progressed during or after radiation therapy. 7. Patients must have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2. 8. Patients must be at least 18 years of age. 9. Patients must have adequate liver and renal function. 10. Patients must have adequate bone marrow function. 11. Patients must sign an informed consent form indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study and in keeping with the policies of the institution. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who have received prior therapy with any taxane. 2. Patients who have a past or current history of cancer other than the entry diagnosis, except for curatively treated non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or other cancers treated for cure and with a disease-free survival longer than 5 years. 3. Patients with symptomatic brain metastasis (es). 4. Patients who are pregnant or nursing and patients who are not practicing an acceptable method of birth control. Patients may not breastfeed while on this study. 5. Patients with active infections currently receiving anti-infectious treatment (e.g., antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals). 6. Patients with current peripheral neuropathy of any etiology that is greater than grade one (1). 7. Patients with unstable or serious concurrent medical conditions are excluded. 8. Patients with a known hypersensitivity to Cremophor®. 9. Patients with one or more of the following as the only manifestations of disease are ineligible: bone lesions, leptomeningeal disease, ascites, pleural/pericardial effusions, carcinomatous lymphangitis, central nervous system (CNS) metastases, lesions in a previously irradiated area that have not shown definite progression, or disease only inferred from laboratory tests or markers. 10. Patients with a history of Gilbert's Syndrome. 11. Patients must not receive any concurrent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, non-FDA approved nutritional supplements or herbal preparations or immunotherapy while on study. 12. Known HIV disease or infection. 13. Patients receiving ketoconazole, erythromycin, verapamil, diazepam, quinidine or diltiazem. 14. Patients must not have had any surgical procedure requiring hospitalization and administration of general anesthesia within the past 28 days. 15. Patients must not have received prior systemic chemotherapy for advanced disease. Prior adjuvant systematic chemotherapy (non-taxane containing) is allowed.