Adding a specialized pump treatment to standard chemotherapy for liver cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT05863195 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 3 — Testing in thousands of people, comparing the treatment against what doctors currently use. This is the last big step before approval.

What is this trial?

The PUMP Trial is testing whether adding a surgically implanted pump that delivers directly into the liver blood vessels — combined with standard chemotherapy — can help people with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver and cannot be surgically removed. About half of participants will receive the pump plus standard chemotherapy, while the other half will receive standard chemotherapy alone. Researchers want to see if this medication delivered directly to where the cancer is growing helps patients live longer.

When colorectal cancer spreads to the liver but cannot be removed with surgery, doctors need better treatment options to improve survival. This treatment aims to deliver higher doses of medication directly to cancer cells in the liver while reducing side effects, potentially helping more patients live longer.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are at least 18 years old
you have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer that has spread to your liver and cannot be surgically removed
you have received 3 to 6 months of first-line chemotherapy and your cancer is stable or responding to treatment
you have no cancer spread outside the liver (with minor exceptions for very small lung nodules)
you are in good enough health to undergo surgery, as determined by your doctor

You likely don't qualify if…

you have cancer that has spread beyond the liver to other organs or distant lymph nodes
you have received more than 6 months of previous chemotherapy or are not tolerating it well
you have severely low blood cell counts or liver function problems
you are not fit enough to have surgery or tolerate chemotherapy
you have unsuitable blood vessel anatomy in your liver that would prevent pump placement

What participation looks like

If you join this study, you'll be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will have surgery to place a small pump under the skin that delivers medication directly into the liver, then receive chemotherapy through both the pump and intravenously; the other group will receive standard chemotherapy alone. Either way, you'll have regular CT scans to monitor how well the treatment is working and visit your doctor for ongoing care and monitoring. The study will follow you over time to see how long you live and how well you tolerate the treatment.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 23, 2026 · Not medical advice

Adding a specialized pump treatment to standard chemotherapy for liver cancer

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(60 sites)