New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of primary liver cancer, usually developing in people with chronic liver disease from hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or cirrhosis. Treatment depends on tumor size, liver function, and whether cancer has spread — options include surgery, ablation, embolization, radiation, and systemic therapies including immunotherapy combinations now used as first-line treatment.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing new immunotherapy combinations, targeted drugs against specific tumor mutations, locoregional therapies that deliver treatment directly to the liver, and ways to predict who will respond to checkpoint inhibitors. Research also focuses on preventing HCC in people with cirrhosis and treating earlier-stage disease before it becomes inoperable.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on liver function scores (Child-Pugh class), tumor stage, prior treatments, hepatitis status, and whether you've had previous liver-directed therapies.

What types of trials are currently open

• Immunotherapy trials — Testing checkpoint inhibitors alone or in combination with other drugs, often comparing new regimens to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab.
• Targeted therapy trials — Testing drugs against specific mutations or growth pathways, sometimes requiring tumor biopsy to check for genetic markers.
• Locoregional trials — Studies of radiation, ablation, or embolization techniques, sometimes combined with systemic drugs like immunotherapy.
• Adjuvant trials — Testing treatments after surgery or ablation to prevent cancer from coming back, an area where no standard therapy exists yet.
• Prevention trials — Testing whether drugs can prevent HCC in people with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis, particularly those at high risk.