A Phase 2 interventional study of Transarterial chemoembolization and durvalumab and tremelimumab in HCC, Tace and Immunotherapy, sponsored by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 20 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-06.
Sponsored by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
Study Objectives: Atezolizumab (anti-programmed death-ligand 1; anti-PD-L1) combined with bevacizumab (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor; anti-VEGF) or Durvalumab (anti-programmed death-ligand 1; anti-PD-L1) combined with tremelimumab (anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4; anti-CTLA4) have recently been established as a standard first-line systemic treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its objective response rate (ORR) is only less than 27% (1, 2), and the majority of patients died of HCC progression and liver failure. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a novel combination treatment strategy to overcome resistance to immunotherapy and improve patient outcomes.
Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) remains the standard treatment for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (3, 4). However, in our previous retrospective study (5-7), the investigators consistently observed that this combination not only improves therapeutic responses but also significantly prolongs patient survival. The tumor necrosis caused by TACE may enhance the efficacy of systemic therapies by promoting the release of neoantigens, thereby stimulating immune responses (8-14). This concept has been substantiated in two recent trials involving intermediate-stage HCC (15, 16), where the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to TACE resulted in improved clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, this promising approach has yet to replace the decades-old standard treatment protocols, underscoring the need for further proof-of-concept studies.
Both immunotherapy (atezolizumab/bevacizumab or durvalumab/tremelimumab) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are approved treatment modalities for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by the U.S. and Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This phase II non-randomized trial is designed to prospectively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy, safety, and immunological responses in patients with unresectable HCC treated with a combination of immunotherapy and TACE. A particular focus of this study is to explore the potential immune-boosting effects of TACE, including its ability to enhance antigen presentation and stimulate anti-tumor immune responses.
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital is the lead sponsor of 1,064 studies on the registry; 235 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Participants must have diagnosis of HCC that is deemed unsuitable for surgical resection or transplant. Participants may have multiple lesions with a total maximal tumor dimension of \< 20 cm, and no one lesion > 15 cm. Diagnosis should be confirmed by at least 1 criterion listed below:
Histologically or cytologically proven diagnosis of HCC. Typical arterial enhancement and delayed washout on multiphasic CT or MRI.
Adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal function within 4 weeks before study registration
Exclusion Criteria:
Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:
partial TACE
Procedure: Transarterial chemoembolization · Drug: durvalumab and tremelimumab
1. Targeting 1-3 prognostically relevant tumor nodules. 2. Administration of anti-cancer drugs (doxorubicin 20 mg in each section of TACE). 3. Embolization with Drug-Eluting Beads (doxorubicin 20 mg loaded Hepasphere 20 mg of TACE) 4. Embolization was done when there was a slight decrease in blood flow for each tumor feeder.
Combine TACE with immunotherapy
Also known as: Atezolizumab & Bevacizumab
PFS
PFS 12 month
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 months
ORR
Best ORR
Time frame: 12 months
OS
OS 3 years
Time frame: OS 3 years
DOR
Duration of response
Time frame: Up to 3 years
The function of innate CD8+ T cells
Evaluate innate-like CD8⁺ T-cell function using participants' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
Time frame: Up to 3 years
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: Undecided
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital