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TACE-3: A two-arm multi-stage (TAMS) seamless phase II/III randomised trial of nivolumab in combination with TACE/TAE for patients with intermediate stage HCC

Study ID: 39879
Short Title: TACE-3
Trust Name: UHD,UHS
Recruitment Site: Royal Bournemouth Hospital,Southampton General Hospital
Disease Area: Upper GI
Phase: III
II
Expected End Date: 31/12/2024
Postcode: SO16 6YD
BH15 2JB
Contact Name: Amanda Pattie
Contact Email: studysupport1and3.crnwessex@nihr.ac.uk
Active: Yes

1. Histological diagnosis* of HCC and at least one uni-dimensional lesion measurable according to RECIST 1.1 criteria by CT-scan or MRI. 2. Not a candidate for surgical resection or liver transplantation** 3. Aged > = 16 years and estimated life expectancy > 3 months 4. ECOG performance status 0-1 5. Adequate haematological function: • Hb > = 9g/L • Absolute neutrophil count > = 1.0x109/L • Platelet count > = 60x109/L 6. Bilirubin < = 50 μmol/L, AST,ALT and ALP < = 5 x ULN 7. Adequate renal function; Creatinine < = 1.5ULN (Using Cockcroft-Gault Formula) 8. INR < = 1.7 9. Child-Pugh A (score < = 6) (Appendix D) 10. HAP score A, B or C (Appendix E) 11. No contra-indications to T-cell checkpoint inhibitor therapy (use of immunosuppressive drugs including steroids at dose equivalent to prednisolone > 10mg/day unless used as replacement therapy; organ transplantation; subjects with an active, known or suspected autoimmune disease. Subjects with type I diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism only requiring hormone replacement, skin disorders (such as vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia) not requiring systemic treatment, lichen planus or other conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enrol). 12. Women of child-bearing potential should have a negative pregnancy test prior to study entry. Both men and women must be using an adequate contraception method, which must be continued for 5 months after completion of treatment for women and 7 months for men 13. Written informed consent *All patients are required to under a MANDATORY biopsy prior to entry onto the study. **Criteria which establish ‘intermediate’ HCC

1. Extrahepatic metastasis* 2. Prior embolisation, systemic or radiation therapy for HCC* 3. Any contraindications for hepatic embolisation procedures including portosystemic shunt, hepatofugal blood flow, known severe atheromatosis 4. Investigational therapy or major surgery within 4 weeks of trial entry 5. History of variceal bleeding within the past 4 weeks 6. Child-Pugh cirrhosis B or C (score > = 7) 7. HAP score D 8. Hepatic encephalopathy 9. Ascites refractory to diuretic therapy 10. Documented occlusion of the hepatic artery or main portal vein5 11. Hypersensitivity to intravenous contrast agents 12. Active clinically serious infection > Grade 2 NCI-CTC 13. Pregnant or lactating women 14. Known history of HIV infection 15. HBV chronic infection with HBV DNA > 500IU/mL or without antiviral therapy; HBV patients with cirrhosis should be treated. 16. History of serious autoimmune disease. 17. History of second malignancy except those treated with curative intent more than three years previously without relapse and non-melanotic skin cancer or cervical carcinoma in situ 18. Evidence of severe or uncontrolled systemic disease, or laboratory finding that in the view of the Investigator makes it undesirable for the patient to participate in the trial 19. Psychiatric or other disorder likely to impact on informed consent 20. Patient is unable and/or unwilling to comply with treatment and study instructions *Criteria which establish ‘intermediate’ HCC

This study is looking to see if adding the drug nivolumab to the current standard treatment will be better for treating patients with liver cancer. The current treatment TACE (Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolisation) with drug eluting beads puts a large dose of chemotherapy drugs directly into the tumour. Putting the drug directly into the tumour gives less side effects and less damage to other tissues nearby. Current evidence suggests that adding an immunotherapy drug like Nivolumab at the same time as TACE may help increase the time taken until the tumour begins to grow/spread. The study is looking at patients who have liver cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)) which is classified as intermediate. Patients will need to undergo some tests and a biopsy of their Liver to confirm it is safe and they are suitable to be included in the trial. The study will be conducted across NHS hospitals in the UK and in hospitals in France. In this study we will treat half the patients with TACE on its own and the other half with TACE and the new drug nivolumab. Patients will have regular scans to look at their cancer and will be treated until the cancer has grown. Nivolumab will be given once before a patient’s first TACE therapy and then every 4 weeks alongside any further TACE therapy given. Patients will be on study treatment for a maximum of 2 years. We will look at how long it takes for patient’s cancer to grow, how long patients survive, the side effects patients suffer and also Quality of Life. The study is split into two parts. If the first part (phase II) of the study shows that the drug maybe working to control patient’s cancers, we will expand the study to recruit more patients in part two (phase III).

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