Impact of Radiotherapy on ctDNA in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma (NCT06885879) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Impact of Radiotherapy on ctDNA in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hong Kong15 participantsStarted 2025-04-08
Plain-language 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.
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 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 …
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
1
To characterize the temporal changes of the biological properties of Circulating tumour DNA, including its relative percentage, fragment size, and end-motif fragment pattern for patients undergoing radiotherapy to Hepatocellular carcinoma.