Photon Radiotherapy Plus Tremelimumab/Durvalumab for BCLC Stage B and C HCC

Phase 2

Recruiting

• Conditions: HCC - Hepatocellular Carcinoma; Tremelimumab; Durvalumab; Radiotherapy
• Interventions: Radiation: Photon radiotherapy; Drug: Tremelimumab; Drug: Durvalumab

• Registration Number: NCT06999707
• Lead Sponsor: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Brief Summary

Tremelimumab plus durvalumab (the STRIDE regimen) is an approved first-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, it demonstrates limited efficacy, with an objective response rate (ORR) of only 20.1%. Radiation therapy (RT) is highly effective in controlling localized solid tumors and has become an integral component of the treatment algorithm for unresectable HCC. Preclinical studies have shown that combining RT with PD-L1/PD-1 blockade promotes immunogenic cell death and enhances antigen presentation by dendritic cells, thereby boosting systemic T cell-mediated antitumor responses in mouse models. The addition of CTLA-4 inhibition further enhances antigen cross-priming following RT. Recent retrospective data also indicate that combining RT with immune-oncology agents is associated with improved overall survival and prolonged time to progression compared to RT or immunotherapy alone. However, the clinical benefit and immunologic impact of combining RT with tremelimumab and durvalumab have not yet been evaluated in prospective clinical trials for unresectable HCC.

This phase II, single-arm clinical trial aims to assess the safety, efficacy, and immunologic effects of combining proton RT with tremelimumab and durvalumab in patients with unresectable HCC.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2025-05-22
• Study First Submitted: 2025-05-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-22
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-31
• Status Verified: 2025-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-06-03
• Last Update Posted: 2025-06-05
• Primary Completion: 2030-05-31
• Study Completion: 2033-05-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 45

Inclusion Criteria

1. Participants must have diagnosis of HCC that is deemed unsuitable for surgical resection or transplant. Participants may have multiple lesions with a total maximal tumor dimension of < 20 cm, and no one lesion > 15 cm. Diagnosis should be confirmed by at least 1 criterion listed below:

   • Histologically or cytologically proven diagnosis of HCC.
   • Typical arterial enhancement and delayed washout on multiphasic CT or MRI.

2. Age ≥18 years at the time of signing informed consent document.

3. ECOG performance status 0-1.

4. Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages Intermediate (B) or Advanced (C).

5. Child-Pugh score 5-6 liver function within 28 days of study registration.

6. Documented virology status of hepatitis B virus (HBV), as confirmed by screening HBV serology test.

7. Documented virology status of hepatitis C virus (HCV), as confirmed by screening HCV serology test.

8. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

9. Adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal function within 4 weeks before study registration

   • Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
   • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,000/mm3
   • Platelet count ≥ 50,000/μL
   • Total bilirubin < 2.5 mg/dL
   • Serum albumin >2.8 g/dL
   • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3 × upper limit of normal (ULN)
   • Prothrombin time ≤ 6 seconds prolonged
   • Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL

Exclusion Criteria

1. Prior invasive malignancy unless disease free for a minimum of 2 years

2. Prior radiotherapy to the region of the liver that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields

3. Prior selective internal radiotherapy/hepatic arterial yttrium therapy, at any time

4. Untreated active hepatitis B or hepatitis C

5. Moderate to severe or intractable ascites

6. Presence of distant metastases that cannot be encompassed by photon radiotherapy

7. Untreated or incomplete treated esophageal or gastric varices

8. Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:

   • Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months prior to registration
   • Myocardial infarction within the last 6 months prior to study entry
   • Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics within 28 days prior to study entry
   • A bleeding episode within 6 months prior to study entry due to any cause.
   • Thrombolytic therapy within 28 days prior to study entry.
   • Known bleeding or clotting disorder.
   • Uncontrolled psychotic disorder

9. Pregnancy or women of childbearing potential and men who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception

10. Prior solid organ transplantation.

11. Prior or active autoimmune disease (AID) including autoimmune hepatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Wegener granulomatosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and multiple sclerosis.

12. Inability to treat all sites of disease by photon radiotherapy (such as extrahepatic metastases or massive liver tumors whereby the liver constraints cannot be met for covering all sites of liver tumors using photon radiotherapy.)

13. Known HIV infection.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Photon radiotherapy combined with Tremelimumab and Durvalumab	Photon radiotherapy	Patients undergo photon radiotherapy combined with Tremelimumab and Durvalumab.
Photon radiotherapy combined with Tremelimumab and Durvalumab	Tremelimumab	Patients undergo photon radiotherapy combined with Tremelimumab and Durvalumab.
Photon radiotherapy combined with Tremelimumab and Durvalumab	Durvalumab	Patients undergo photon radiotherapy combined with Tremelimumab and Durvalumab.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Progression free survival	12 months	Progression free survival is defined as the time from signing the informed consent to the first occurrence of disease progression or death from any cause (whichever occurs first) according to RECIST1.1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Overall survival	12 months	Overall survival is defined as the time from signing the informed consent to death from any cause.
Incidence and severity of adverse events	12 months	Description: Adverse events will be graded using CTCAE v5
Overall Response Rate	12 months	Overall Response Rate is defined as a complete or partial response according to RECIST1.1
Local control	12 months	Local control is defined as the time from signing the informed consent to the first occurrence of disease progression in the irradiated field according to RECIST1.1
Time to progression	12 months	Time to progression is defined as the time from signing the informed consent to the first occurrence of disease progression according to RECIST1.1

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou; 🇨🇳 Taoyuan City, Taiwan