NCT06885879 Impact of Radiotherapy on ctDNA in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
| NCT ID | NCT06885879 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| Condition | HCC - Hepatocellular Carcinoma |
| Study Type | OBSERVATIONAL |
| Enrollment | 15 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-04-08 |
| Primary Completion | 2027-07-31 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
This is an observational study. You will not receive an experimental treatment; researchers will collect data based on your existing condition or standard treatment.
This trial targets 15 participants in total. It began in 2025-04-08 with a primary completion date of 2027-07-31.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Radiotherapy is increasingly being used in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a standalone treatment, or in combination with systemic therapy. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) causes cell death directly (via double-stranded breaks) and indirectly (via vascular bed damage or promotion of antitumour immunity). Unfortunately, the effect of cell death is not immediate and takes time. As a result, the typical arterial phase hyperenhancement on imaging may persist up to 12 months after radiotherapy, and it is not necessarily suggestive of presence of viable tumours. Therefore, there is no consensus on ideal timing of response assessment following radiotherapy to HCC. Therefore, a blood-based biomarker which can be done frequently and monitored dynamically, could be preferred for response assessment after radiotherapy. Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) is an emerging and promising biomarker in cancer management, which has been shown useful in cancer screening, guiding treatment, and informing prognosis. Currently, most of the clinical applications of ctDNA revolve around either the presence of ctDNA, or the genomic changes associated with these molecules. Biological properties of ctDNA such as fragment length, jaggedness of fragments, or epigenetic changes may provide additional information related to the tumour characteristics and its sensitivity to anti-cancer treatments. These biological properties of ctDNA are relatively unexplored in the context of radiotherapy. It is unknown whether these properties can be utilized for monitoring treatment response. We therefore propose to study the biological properties of ctDNA in relation to HCC patients undergoing radiotherapy.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged ≥ 18 years old * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance 0 to 1 * Confirmed diagnosis of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) * Tumour size ≥ 3cm * Patients planning on undergoing Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for HCC * Prior radiofrequency ablation at a different site, or prior surgery are eligible * Child-Pugh A liver function * Life expectancy longer than 12 weeks * At least one measurable treatment lesion according to RECIST 1.1 * Written informed consent must be obtained prior to any study related procedures * Adequate haematological function (Hemoglobin ≥ 8.5g/dL; Platelet Count ≥ 75x109/L; Antenatal Care ≥ 1.5x109/L; international normalised ratio ≤ 1.5) * Adequate hepatic function (albumin ≥ 28g/l; Bilirubin ≤ 1.5xULN; Alanine transaminase \< 5 times upper limit normal) * Adequate renal function (serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal range; Sodium ≥ 130mmol/L; Potassium ≥ 3.0mmol/L) * Able to read, understand and provide written consent Exclusion Criteria: * Histology shows sarcomatoid HCC, fibrolamellar HCC, mixed cholangiocarcinoma-hepatocellular carcinoma * Presence of other malignancy than HCC within 5 years from diagnosis of HCC * Prior Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) within 3 months * Previous radiotherapy to the abdomen * Previous yttrium-90 chemoembolization * Repetitive history of non-healing wounds or ulcers within 2 months of inclusion * Pregnant or lactating females at any time during the study * Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic therapy in the past 2 years * Diagnosis of immunodeficiency (including Human Immunodeficiency Viruses) * Patients with coagulopathy or on anticoagulant will be excluded from liver biopsy
Contact & Investigator
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT06885879 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying HCC - Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT06885879 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT06885879 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at landon.chan@cuhk.edu.hk for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT06885879 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Who is sponsoring the NCT06885879 clinical trial?
NCT06885879 is sponsored by Chinese University of Hong Kong. The trial plans to enroll 15 participants.
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