Recruiting

New immune cell therapy for advanced liver cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT04864054 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated June 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 1/2 — A combined trial that checks safety and dosing while also starting to look at whether the treatment works.

What is this trial?

This study is testing ECT204, a personalized immune cell therapy for people with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Doctors take your own T cells (immune cells that fight disease), modify them in a laboratory to recognize and attack cancer cells, and then put them back into your body. The goal is to see if this approach can slow or shrink your cancer.

Advanced liver cancer is difficult to treat, especially after standard chemotherapy stops working or causes too many side effects. This medication represents a new approach by harnessing your own immune system to target cancer cells that other treatments may have missed.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma that cannot be surgically removed, has come back after surgery, or has spread to other parts of your body
your cancer cells express a specific protein called GPC3, confirmed by a biopsy
you have already received at least one round of standard chemotherapy for liver cancer and your disease either got worse or you could not tolerate the side effects
your doctor believes you are well enough to participate and will likely live at least 4 months
your liver function is reasonably well-preserved (measured by a test called Child-Pugh score)
you have adequate heart, kidney, and bone marrow function

You likely don't qualify if…

you have an active, uncontrolled infection (though HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C are acceptable if being treated with controlled viral load)
you have had another type of cancer besides liver cancer within the past 5 years
you have cancer that has spread to your brain or central nervous system (unless previously treated and stable for 6+ months)
you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have an active autoimmune disease requiring immunosuppressive medications
you currently have severe liver disease complications like uncontrolled fluid buildup in your abdomen or recent severe bleeding from your stomach

What participation looks like

You will have your T cells collected through a standard blood draw. These cells are sent to a laboratory to be modified and grown for several weeks. Once ready, you will receive infusions of the modified cells back into your body, either as a single infusion or multiple infusions over time depending on which group you are in. You will have regular visits (blood tests, imaging scans, and physical exams) for 2 years after your first infusion to monitor how well the treatment works and check for side effects. After that, you will continue in long-term follow-up through year 15 to track your overall survival and any delayed effects.

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

Trial locations(8 sites)

United States

City of Hope, Duarte, California

Kansas University Medical Center, Principal Investigator:, Westwood, Kansas

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York

Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Bronx, New York

Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon