RecruitingPhase 1/2

Testing the Addition of an Anti-cancer Drug, Sapanisertib, to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Cabozantinib) in Metastatic Liver Cell Cancer With a Change in Genes for the Protein β-Catenin, The SAPHIRE Trial

United States92 participantsStarted 2025-11-17

Plain-language summary

This phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of sapanisertib when given together with cabozantinib, and to see how well they work in treating patients with liver cancer that has spread from where it first started to other places in the body (metastatic) and contains a mutation (change) in the β-catenin gene. Sapanisertib and cabozantinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving sapanisertib and cabozantinib together may work better than giving cabozantinib alone in treating β-catenin-mutated metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

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: * Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed HCC, not amenable to curative treatment approach * For Phase 2, patients 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 for non-nodal lesions and short axis for nodal lesions) as ≥ 20 mm (≥ 2 cm) by chest x-ray or as ≥ 10 mm (≥ 1 cm) with CT scan, MRI, or calipers by clinical exam * For phase 2, patients must have a β-catenin mutation, based on next generation eequencing (NGS) testing through Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified commercially available standard of care assay * Patients must have received at least one prior line of systemic therapy in the metastatic setting, including a prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy unless not eligible. For the phase 2 portion, patients must have received at least one and no more than two prior lines of systemic therapy in the metastatic setting, including a prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy unless not eligible * Age ≥ 18 years. Because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of sapanisertib in combination with cabozantinib in patients \<18 years of age, children are excluded from this study * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2 (Karnofsky ≥ 50%) * Child Pugh score of A * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mcL * Platelets ≥ 30,000/mcL * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × in…

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

Dose-limiting toxicities and incidence of adverse events

Timeframe: From registration to disease progression or death due to any cause, assessed up to 2 years

Progression free survival (PFS)

Timeframe: From registration to disease progression or death due to any cause, assessed up to 2 years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06811116

SponsorNational Cancer Institute (NCI)

Sponsor typeNIH

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-08-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma trials