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Clinical Trials/NCT07628751
NCT07628751RecruitingNot Applicable

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Standard Of Care Versus Radio Ablation in Early Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma

University Health Network, Toronto2 sites in 2 countries218 target enrollmentStarted: May 11, 2026Last updated:

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Recruiting
Enrollment
218
Locations
2

Study Overview

Brief Summary

This Phase II Prospective, parallel and open-label randomised control trial will investigate whether a radiotherapy technique (called SABR) can treat early stage liver cancer more effectively than current treatments which use heating probes directly inserted into the tumour or chemotherapy or radioactive particles injected into the blood supply of the tumour. Investigators hypothesize SABR will result in higher rates of freedom from local progression (FFLP) at 2 years compared to percutaneous thermal ablation ± TACE or transarterial therapies (TACE/TARE).The study will also look at other important outcomes such as progression free survival, overall survival, side effects, quality of life and people's experiences of their treatment.

Detailed Description

The SOCRATES randomised controlled trial will assess the efficacy, toxicity, HRQoL profile and cost effectiveness of SABR compared to the current SOC treatment in patients with first diagnosis of unresectable, single nodule HCC. Participants will be placed into one of two groups based on the size of their tumour and whether thermal ablation is an appropriate treatment for them. The study will include about 218 participants in total. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either SABR or the current standard of care. Standard care may include thermal ablation, transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), or transarterial radioembolisation (TARE).

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • 1) Histological or radiological diagnosis of single, new HCC with largest diameter =8 cm (BCLC stage 0 or A).
  • a) If prior history of HCC, the prior HCC must have been:
  • Early stage, solitary HCC, =5 cm in size and,
  • Have arisen within a different liver segment to the current HCC and,
  • Treated with curative intent therapy >2 years prior with no evidence of active disease at the site.
  • 2) As per local multidisciplinary HCC meeting consensus patient is suitable for percutaneous thermal ablation and/or transarterial therapies and not suitable for or declined liver resection and not planned for liver transplantation.
  • 3) Child-Pugh score =B7* with no or diuretic-controlled ascites
  • 4) ECOG performance status =2
  • 5) Platelets =50x109/L, Haemoglobin =80 g/L, Neutrophils =1.0x109/L, INR <1.8 (except if on therapeutic anticoagulation)
  • 6) 18 years of age or older and able to provide written consent

Exclusion Criteria

  • 1) Presence of multifocal HCC, macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic disease
  • 2) Prior treatment for any HCC within last 2 years.
  • 3) Clinically evident ascites or hepatic encephalopathy
  • 4) Prior abdominal radiation therapy that would preclude the delivery of protocol defined SABR to the tumour.
  • 5) Untreated Hepatitis B or C
  • 6) Known additional invasive malignancy (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) that is progressing or required treatment within the last 2 years.
  • 7) Pregnancy

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Sponsor

Study Sites (2)

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