Recruiting

Testing immune cells to treat liver cancer in hepatitis B patients

Plain-English translation of NCT04745403 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated November 2023 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 1 — Testing in a small group (usually 20–80 people) to find a safe dose and watch for side effects.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a new treatment called , which are your own immune cells that have been genetically modified in the laboratory to recognize and attack hepatitis B-infected cancer cells. The study aims to evaluate whether this treatment is safe and how well it works in patients with liver cancer who cannot receive or have failed standard treatments. Researchers will give you increasing doses of these engineered cells every two weeks and monitor your response.

Liver cancer related to hepatitis B is difficult to treat once it becomes advanced or stops responding to standard therapies like surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. This medication represents a new approach using your own immune system to target the cancer, offering hope to patients with limited options.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) that cannot be treated with standard options or has not responded to them
you have active hepatitis B infection (confirmed by a positive blood test)
your liver function is relatively preserved—either without cirrhosis or with mild, well-controlled cirrhosis
your overall health and energy level are good enough to tolerate the treatment (ECOG score of 0 or 1)
you have a life expectancy of at least 3 months
your immune system type matches one of the available T cell receptors (HLA-A*02:01 or HLA-A*24:02)

You likely don't qualify if…

you have cancer that has spread to your brain
you are currently taking immune checkpoint inhibitors or certain other cancer drugs, or have taken them recently
you have advanced liver disease with severe cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B or C)
you have very high levels of hepatitis B virus in your blood at screening
you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or likely to need immunosuppressive medications during the trial

What participation looks like

You will receive infusions of the engineered immune cells every two weeks, starting with a small dose that will gradually increase based on how well you tolerate the treatment. Before treatment begins, you will have a liver biopsy to establish a baseline. Throughout the study, you will have regular blood tests and monitoring visits to check for side effects and measure how your cancer responds. The trial is designed for a small group of 10 patients at a single medical center.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 19, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

Singapore

Singapore General Hospital, Singapore