A Study of Standard Of Care Versus Radio Ablation in Early Stage HCC
Recruiting now NCT07628751
Run by University Health Network, Toronto · for 18 and older · All sexes
What this study is about
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.
Who can join (things the study team will check)
✅ You may be able to join if…
- 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.
- 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.
- Child-Pugh score =B7* with no or diuretic-controlled ascites
- ECOG performance status =2
- Platelets =50x109/L, Haemoglobin =80 g/L, Neutrophils =1.0x109/L, INR <1.8 (except if on therapeutic anticoagulation)
- 18 years of age or older and able to provide written consent
🚫 You may not be able to join if…
- Presence of multifocal HCC, macrovascular invasion or extrahepatic disease
- Prior treatment for any HCC within last 2 years.
- Clinically evident ascites or hepatic encephalopathy
- Prior abdominal radiation therapy that would preclude the delivery of protocol defined SABR to the tumour.
- Untreated Hepatitis B or C
- Known additional invasive malignancy (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) that is progressing or required treatment within the last 2 years.
- Pregnancy
Where this trial is running
- Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group, Waratah, Australia
- University Health Network - Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Who to contact
Michael Yan, MD MPH FRCPC DABR · (416) 946-2320 · Michael.Yan@uhn.ca
It's completely normal to call and ask questions before deciding anything. Mention the study ID: NCT07628751.
Verify everything on the official ClinicalTrials.gov record. Page updated July 2026.