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Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) Versus Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) as Bridge to Liver Transplant

A Randomized Phase II Study of Individualized Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) Versus Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) With DEBDOX Beads as a Bridge to Transplant in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02182687
Acronym
SBRTvsTACE
Enrollment
60
Registered
2014-07-08
Start date
2014-06-30
Completion date
2021-10-31
Last updated
2024-03-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hepatocellular Carcinoma, HCC

Keywords

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Orthotopic liver transplant, Bridge to transplant, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE)

Brief summary

This study will compare stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) as a bridging strategy for patients with HCC undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. We propose that SBRT will be associated with longer time intervals between initial treatment and the need for retreatment, compared to TACE, as a bridge to orthotopic liver transplantation.

Detailed description

For patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are waiting for a liver transplant, local treatment of their disease has become the standard of care in an effort to decrease dropout rates and as a means of reducing tumor recurrence after transplantation. However, the best modality for patients undergoing treatment as a bridge to transplantation is unclear. This study will compare stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) as a bridging strategy for patients with HCC undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. We propose that SBRT will be associated with longer time intervals between initial treatment and the need for retreatment, compared to TACE, as a bridge to orthotopic liver transplantation.

Interventions

RADIATIONStereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)

SBRT will be delivered in five total fractions, with at a minimum of one day between any two treatments. The entire treatment must be delivered within 15 total days.

First day will be administered and a second TACE will be administered after 4 weeks and subsequently if imaging is showing disease progression. Following each TACE procedure all patients will remain in hospital for observation.

This procedure will be completed with 2 vials of drug eluting beads each loaded with 50 mg of Doxorubin.

Sponsors

Varian Medical Systems
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Lahey Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are eligible for this trial. Hepatocellular carcinoma is defined as having at least one of the following: Biopsy proven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); or A discrete hepatic tumor(s) as defined by the Barcelona (29) criteria for cirrhotic patients, \>2cm with arterial hypervascularity and venous or delayed phase washout on CT or MRI. * Patient is within Milan Criteria and listed for orthotopic liver transplantation. * Patients must have a Zubrod performance status of ≤2. * Patients must have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks. * Patients must be 18 years of age or older. Adult patients of all ages, both sexes and all races will be included in this study. * Patients must be Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) Class A or Class B (≤ 7). * Female patients within reproductive years may not be, nor become, pregnant during participation in this study. Both male and female patients within reproductive years must agree to use an effective contraceptive method during treatment. Women of childbearing age will be required to undergo a urine or serum pregnancy test to ensure they are not pregnant. * Patients must have adequate organ function within 2 weeks of enrollment. Bone marrow: Platelets ≥30,000/mm3 Renal: BUN ≤40 mg/dl; creatinine ≤2.0 mg/dl Hepatic: INR ≤ 1.5 or correctable by Vitamin K, unless anti- coagulated for another medical reason Bilirubin \< 3 mg/dl (in the absence of obstruction or pre-existing disease of the biliary tract, e.g. primary sclerosing cholangitis) Patients uninvolved liver volume will be estimated and must be \> 700ml. * Patients must sign an informed consent form approved for this purpose by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center indicating that they are aware of the investigational aspects of the treatment and the potential risks.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients in a special category designated the Public Health Service, including patients younger than 18, pregnant women, and prisoners. * Refractory ascites or ascites that requires paracentesis for management. * Patients with a solitary lesion greater than 5.0cm in size or more than 2 discrete lesions the largest greater than 3.0 cm in size. * Known allergy to intravenous iodinated contrast agents unresponsive to prednisone pre-treatment.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Freedom From Progression Over Time3, 6 and 12 MonthsTime from SBRT and TACE intervention to progression was tracked for subject receiving protocol intervention. Progression is defined using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0), as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesion.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Toxicity To Compare Participants With Treatment-related Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAEAt each treatment, 2 weeks post treatment, 2 months post treatment, 5 months post treatment, every 3 months until 24 months post treatmentGrade 3 or greater toxicity with treatment-related adverse events was tracked at protocol specific time points. Grading of events was according to CTCAE.
Number of Participants Who Require Further Interventions Prior to Liver Transplant2 weeks post treatment, 2 months post treatment, 5 months post treatment, every 3 months until 24 months post treatmentEach patient on each arm was followed to see how if further treatment interventions were needed prior to liver transplant. This outcome summarizes the number of participants who needed further treatment.
Pathologic Response of Treated Lesion(s)At time of liver transplantPathologic complete response was recorded for patients in both arms after completion of liver transplant. Explanted liver was reviewed by the pathologist to determine if residual tumor was identified.
Radiologic Response of Treat Lesion(s)Baseline, 3 months post-treatment, 6 months post-treatment, every 3 months thereafter until 2 years post treatmentNumber of patients with a radiographical response to treatment.The status of each treated tumor/target lesion was assessed by MRI or CT scan and classified as progression if there was tumor growth (excluding growth due to biloma or abscess formation), residual or new enhancement of the ablated tumor (excluding benign peri-ablational enhancement), or contiguous viable tumor as determined by mRECIST Criteria.
Quality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveyBaseline, 2 weeks post-treatment, 6 months post-treatmentQuality of life was assessed with Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36v2®) and Pain Impact Questionnaire (PIQ-6TM) Health Survey. Data was stored and scored with Pro CoRE 2.0 Smart Measurement® System. Scores were analyzed at three time points, baseline-before the first treatment, acute response-2 weeks post the first treatment, and long term response - 6 months after the first treatment. The PIQ-6 Pain Impact Questionnaire measures how a subject's pain affects every day activities. The SF-36v2 Health Survey measures functional health and well-being from the subject's point of view. The survey's scores range from 0-100, with 0 having the most disability and a score of 100 being equivalent to no disability.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Arm A
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT): SBRT will be delivered in five total fractions, with at a minimum of one day between any two treatments. The entire treatment must be delivered within 15 total days.
19
Arm B
Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Drug: Doxorubin Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE): First day will be administered and a second TACE will be administered after 4 weeks and subsequently if imaging is showing disease progression. Following each TACE procedure all patients will remain in hospital for observation. Doxorubin: This procedure will be completed with 2 vials of drug eluting beads each loaded with 50 mg of Doxorubin.
29
Total48

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyAdverse Event10
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up01
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject40

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicArm BTotalArm A
Age, Continuous61.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.2
62.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.4
63.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.6
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected0 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
29 participants48 participants19 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants9 Participants3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
23 Participants39 Participants16 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 191 / 29
other
Total, other adverse events
7 / 195 / 29
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 192 / 29

Outcome results

Primary

Freedom From Progression Over Time

Time from SBRT and TACE intervention to progression was tracked for subject receiving protocol intervention. Progression is defined using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0), as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesion.

Time frame: 3, 6 and 12 Months

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
Arm AFreedom From Progression Over Time3 Month0 percentage of patients with progression
Arm AFreedom From Progression Over Time6 Month0 percentage of patients with progression
Arm AFreedom From Progression Over Time12 Month11.1 percentage of patients with progression
Arm BFreedom From Progression Over Time3 Month3.4 percentage of patients with progression
Arm BFreedom From Progression Over Time6 Month26.5 percentage of patients with progression
Arm BFreedom From Progression Over Time12 Month38.0 percentage of patients with progression
Secondary

Number of Participants Who Require Further Interventions Prior to Liver Transplant

Each patient on each arm was followed to see how if further treatment interventions were needed prior to liver transplant. This outcome summarizes the number of participants who needed further treatment.

Time frame: 2 weeks post treatment, 2 months post treatment, 5 months post treatment, every 3 months until 24 months post treatment

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Arm ANumber of Participants Who Require Further Interventions Prior to Liver Transplant1 participants
Arm BNumber of Participants Who Require Further Interventions Prior to Liver Transplant6 participants
Secondary

Pathologic Response of Treated Lesion(s)

Pathologic complete response was recorded for patients in both arms after completion of liver transplant. Explanted liver was reviewed by the pathologist to determine if residual tumor was identified.

Time frame: At time of liver transplant

Population: Patients undergoing liver transplant were reviewed for complete pathologic response.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm APathologic Response of Treated Lesion(s)Count of participants undergoing Liver Transplant15 Participants
Arm APathologic Response of Treated Lesion(s)Patients having a complete pathologic response to therapy4 Participants
Arm APathologic Response of Treated Lesion(s)Patients having additional HCC outside the treated area6 Participants
Arm BPathologic Response of Treated Lesion(s)Count of participants undergoing Liver Transplant20 Participants
Arm BPathologic Response of Treated Lesion(s)Patients having a complete pathologic response to therapy7 Participants
Arm BPathologic Response of Treated Lesion(s)Patients having additional HCC outside the treated area8 Participants
Secondary

Quality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health Survey

Quality of life was assessed with Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36v2®) and Pain Impact Questionnaire (PIQ-6TM) Health Survey. Data was stored and scored with Pro CoRE 2.0 Smart Measurement® System. Scores were analyzed at three time points, baseline-before the first treatment, acute response-2 weeks post the first treatment, and long term response - 6 months after the first treatment. The PIQ-6 Pain Impact Questionnaire measures how a subject's pain affects every day activities. The SF-36v2 Health Survey measures functional health and well-being from the subject's point of view. The survey's scores range from 0-100, with 0 having the most disability and a score of 100 being equivalent to no disability.

Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks post-treatment, 6 months post-treatment

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Arm AQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Mental Component Score (2-week)49.7 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 9.8
Arm AQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Physical Component Score (6 Months)49.6 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 5.8
Arm AQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Physical Component Score (baseline)48.1 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 9.7
Arm AQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveyPain Summary score -hand weighted (baseline)49.9 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 9.3
Arm AQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Mental Component Score (6 Months)53.8 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 7.1
Arm AQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveyPain Summary Score - hand weighted (2 weeks)51.4 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 8
Arm AQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Physical Component Score (2 weeks)44.2 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 9.8
Arm AQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveyPain Summary Score - hand weighted (6 Months)47.2 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 8.3
Arm AQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Mental Component Score (baseline)50.2 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 9.4
Arm BQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveyPain Summary Score - hand weighted (6 Months)50.1 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 8.7
Arm BQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Mental Component Score (baseline)49.9 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 7.6
Arm BQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Mental Component Score (2-week)48.7 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 8.8
Arm BQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Mental Component Score (6 Months)50.9 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 8.3
Arm BQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Physical Component Score (baseline)48.3 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 9
Arm BQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Physical Component Score (2 weeks)44.7 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 9.5
Arm BQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveySF36-Physical Component Score (6 Months)45.1 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 10.3
Arm BQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveyPain Summary score -hand weighted (baseline)49.5 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 10
Arm BQuality of Life - Questionnaires Include PIQ-6 and SF-36v2 Health SurveyPain Summary Score - hand weighted (2 weeks)54.2 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 9.8
Secondary

Radiologic Response of Treat Lesion(s)

Number of patients with a radiographical response to treatment.The status of each treated tumor/target lesion was assessed by MRI or CT scan and classified as progression if there was tumor growth (excluding growth due to biloma or abscess formation), residual or new enhancement of the ablated tumor (excluding benign peri-ablational enhancement), or contiguous viable tumor as determined by mRECIST Criteria.

Time frame: Baseline, 3 months post-treatment, 6 months post-treatment, every 3 months thereafter until 2 years post treatment

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm ARadiologic Response of Treat Lesion(s)18 Participants
Arm BRadiologic Response of Treat Lesion(s)23 Participants
Secondary

Toxicity To Compare Participants With Treatment-related Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE

Grade 3 or greater toxicity with treatment-related adverse events was tracked at protocol specific time points. Grading of events was according to CTCAE.

Time frame: At each treatment, 2 weeks post treatment, 2 months post treatment, 5 months post treatment, every 3 months until 24 months post treatment

Population: Subjects in both arms were observed for adverse events at protocol specific time points.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm AToxicity To Compare Participants With Treatment-related Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE1 Participants
Arm BToxicity To Compare Participants With Treatment-related Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE3 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 27, 2026