Recruiting

Testing combination treatment before surgery for advanced liver cancer

Plain-English translation of NCT06420440 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated May 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a new approach to treating advanced liver cancer that can be surgically removed. Patients will either receive a combination of medications called , , and HAIC before surgery, followed by additional medication after surgery, or they will go straight to surgery followed by medication. The study uses artificial intelligence to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from the pre-surgery treatment approach.

Even after surgery, many patients with advanced liver cancer experience cancer recurrence, which significantly affects their long-term survival. This trial is exploring whether giving treatment before surgery can shrink tumors and reduce the risk of cancer coming back, improving overall outcomes.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 75 years old
you have been diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) confirmed by biopsy, with no prior treatment
your liver function is relatively well-preserved (Child-Pugh score of 7 or less)
your cancer can be surgically removed but is considered high-risk for recurrence based on imaging
your cancer has not spread to distant parts of your body
the artificial intelligence screening model predicts you would benefit from the combination treatment

You likely don't qualify if…

you are pregnant or breastfeeding
you have a condition that prevents your body from absorbing medications properly, such as severe vomiting or chronic diarrhea
you have had gastrointestinal bleeding within the past 4 weeks or conditions that increase bleeding risk
you currently have an active infection
you are unable to attend scheduled visits or follow the study plan as designed

What participation looks like

If you enroll, you will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive two cycles of combination medication before surgery, followed by eight cycles of additional medication after surgery. The other group will go directly to surgery, then receive eight cycles of medication afterward. Throughout the study, you will have regular medical visits, imaging scans, and blood tests to monitor how you're responding and to check for any side effects.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 24, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(2 sites)

China

Huapeng Sun, Xiangyang, Hubei

Enyu Liu, Jinan, Shandong