An open label randomized study to compare TATE versus TACE in patients with intermediate
stage Hepatocellular carcinoma who are not suitable for surgical resection or
radiofrequency ablation. The primary endpoint is Progression Free Survival. Secondary
endpoints including CR rate, Time to embolization failure, Duration of CR, OS, ORR, local
control rate, time to local recurrence and duration to local recurrence. The study
treatment is to compare Tirapazamine versus doxorubicin when combined with trans-arterial
embolization. Study plans to enroll 134 patients in 1:1 randomization for TATE or TACE.
MRI will be used to assess efficacy using a central radiological review for the final
analysis.
Study sponsor and potential other locations can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT03145558.
Trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a standard care of intermediate stage
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for 40 years without much improvement in efficacy. The key
reason for lack of progress is that chemotherapy agents are not effective in hypoxia and
cancer stem cells are induced under hypoxia. Tirapazamine, a hypoxia activated agent, can
potential solve these two problems. This open label randomized trial will be conducted in
HCC patients who are in intermediate stage and naive to embolization, Child Pugh up to B7
and with normal organ functions. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive TATE
(trans-arterial tirapazamine embolization) or conventional TACE. The goal of treatment
aims to achieve CR by mRECIST for every patient. If there is evidence of viable lesion,
patients should be treated again. All patients are followed by contrast MRI scans every 2
months in the first year and every 3 months afterwards until patients have evidence of
progression and no longer considered suitable for TATE/TACE. Survival will be followed
for 3 years. Total sample size will be 134 patients with the total study duration for 3
years.
Lead OrganizationTeclison Ltd.