CompletedNot Applicable

Proton Beam Irradiation for the Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Cancer and Cholangiocarcinoma

United States83 participantsStarted 2009-08

Plain-language summary

In this study the investigators will be studying the effects of proton beam radiation therapy. This is a very accurate kind of treatment that has been shown to affect less normal tissue than a photon radiation beam. The accuracy allows the investigators to more safely increase the amount of radiation delivered to eliminate cancer. This accuracy will potentially reduce side effects that participants would normally experience using photon radiation therapy. The purpose of this study is to determine if radiation using proton beam therapy will kill the cancer cells in the participants liver.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Biopsy proven unresectable or locally recurrent hepatocellular cancer or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Patients with a single lesion must be 12cm or less in greatest dimension. For patients with two lesions, no lesion may be greater than 10cm in greatest dimension. For patients with three lesions, no lesion may be greater than 6cm in greatest dimension. Patients may have single or multinodular tumors (up to 3). There must be no evidence of extrahepatic tumor. Portal vein involvement or thrombosis is allowed. * Participants must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as 20mm or greater with conventional techniques or as 10mm or greater with spiral CT scan. * Patients may have had prior chemotherapy, targeted biological therapy, surgery, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency ablation, or cryosurgery for their disease as long as it is greater than 4 weeks from first protocol radiation treatment (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C). Patients may not have had prior radiation to the affected area. * 18 years of age or older * Expected survival must be greater than three months * ECOG Performance Status of 0, 1 or 2 * Normal organ and marrow function as outlined in the protocol * If patient has underlying cirrhosis, only Child-Pugh classification Group A or Group B patients should be included in this study. * Patients must be ei…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

2 Year Local Control Rate

Timeframe: 2 years

Median Overall Survival

Timeframe: 5 years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00976898

SponsorMassachusetts General Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2017-03

Results submitted2017-12-07

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Liver Cancer trials