Combining multimodal tumor ablation with immunotherapy for liver metastases

A Single-center,Multi-cohort,Prospective Phase II Clinical Study of Multimodal Ablation Combined With Systemic Drug Therapy for Advanced Solid Tumors.

This trial will test whether adding the immunotherapy drug pucotenlimab to multimodal thermal ablation helps people with liver metastases from colorectal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, or melanoma.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 95 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 80 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Fudan University (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: Pucotenlimab, fruquintinib, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, prednisone
• Locations: 1 site (Shanghai)
• Trial ID: NCT06889610 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase II trial pairs a multimodal tumor thermal therapy (MTT) that ablates liver metastases with systemic immunotherapy (pucotenlimab) to try to reshape the tumor microenvironment and release neoantigens. Eligible patients with unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, or melanoma will receive ablation to liver lesions plus scheduled systemic drug therapy. The trial will track tumor response, progression, survival outcomes, and safety including liver and hematologic adverse events. The goal is to see if local ablation can act as an in‑situ vaccine and improve systemic disease control when combined with immunotherapy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (18–80 years) with unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, or melanoma who have ≥3 hepatic lesions (ablation lesions <5 cm) with at least one measurable lesion ≥1 cm, ECOG 0–1, expected survival ≥3 months, and adequate organ function.

Not a fit: Patients with poor performance status, significant organ dysfunction or coagulopathy that cannot be managed, lesions too large for ablation, fewer than three liver metastases as specified, or very limited life expectancy are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the combination could improve control of liver metastases and stimulate systemic anti-tumor immunity, potentially prolonging survival or delaying progression.

How similar studies have performed: Early-phase work combining tumor ablation with immunotherapy has shown promising immune activation and local responses, but definitive survival benefits remain unproven.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria i. Common eligibility criteria for all cohorts:

1\. Age between 18-80 years,gender not limited; 2. The number of liver metastases is≥3.Besides the ablation lesions,there must be at least one measurable lesion(≥1cm),and the diameter of the ablation lesions is\<5cm; 3. Expected survival≥3 months; 4. ECOG performance status score of 0-1; 5. Within 14 days before the first dose,laboratory tests indicate adequate organ function:

a) Hematology:WBC≥3.0×10\^9/L;ANC≥1.5×10\^9/L;PLT≥75×10\^9/L;HGB≥90 g/L b) Liver function:Child-Pugh score≤7,AST≤5.0×ULN;ALT≤5.0×ULN;TBIL≤1.5×ULN c) Renal function:Cr≤1.5×ULN or CrCl≥60 mL/min d) Coagulation function:INR≤1.5×ULN(for patients on anticoagulant therapy,≤3×ULN,anticoagulants must be discontinued one week before ablation);APTT≤1.5×ULN ii. Additional eligibility criteria for each cohort:

1. Colorectal Cancer：

   a) Clinically or pathologically confirmed colorectal cancer with liver metastases that are unresectable, or the patient is intolerant to or refuses surgery; b) Patients who have failed standard second-line drug therapy.
2. Triple-negative breast cancer :

   1. Clinically or pathologically confirmed triple-negative breast cancer(triple-negative defined as\<1% nuclear staining for ER and PR expression and HER2 negative);
   2. Patients who have failed standard second-line drug therapy(including those who have failed PD-1 monoclonal antibody therapy, with progression within six months of adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy considered as first-line therapy failure).
3. Melanoma :

   1. Clinically or pathologically confirmed melanoma liver metastasis, with inoperable or intolerable liver lesions or refusal of surgical resection;
   2. Patients who have failed standard first-line drug therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

i. Common exclusion criteria for all cohorts:

1. Patients with known allergy or suspected allergy to the study drugs or similar drugs;
2. Patients who have participated in another clinical study and received at least one treatment within 4 weeks prior to enrollment;
3. History or concurrent presence of other malignant tumors(except for cured basal cell carcinoma of the skin,superficial bladder cancer,carcinoma in situ of the cervix,and papillary thyroid carcinoma);
4. Patients with immunodeficiency diseases within 7 days prior to the first dose,or currently receiving systemic corticosteroid therapy(≥10mg/day prednisone or equivalent dose of other corticosteroids),or other forms of immunosuppressive therapy;
5. Symptomatic central nervous system(CNS)metastases,or other evidence indicating that the CNS metastases have not been controlled,and deemed unsuitable for enrollment by the investigator;
6. Patients who have previously undergone organ or bone marrow transplantation;
7. Uncontrollable pleural effusion,pericardial effusion,or ascites causing respiratory syndrome(≥CTCAE grade 2 dyspnea);
8. Esophageal(gastric fundus)variceal rupture bleeding within the last month;
9. Other antitumor treatments outside the combined regimen,such as radiotherapy,systemic chemotherapy,etc.;
10. Clinically significant electrolyte abnormalities as judged by the investigator;
11. Insufficiency or failure of major organs;
12. Patients who have received systemic drug therapy,radiotherapy,or local liver treatment,with a time interval of less than 1 month since the last systemic treatment or local liver treatment;
13. Patients who have received immunotherapy and experienced grade 3 or higher immune-related adverse events(irAEs)(except for thyroid function abnormalities,blood sugar abnormalities);
14. Active or uncontrolled severe infections(≥CTCAE grade 2 infections);
15. Any other disease,clinically significant metabolic abnormalities,physical examination abnormalities,or laboratory test abnormalities that,in the investigator's judgment,may have a disease or condition that makes the patient unsuitable for the study drug,or may affect the interpretation of the study results,or may place the patient at high risk;
16. Pregnant or breastfeeding women,or women of childbearing age with a positive baseline pregnancy test;
17. Known human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection;known clinically significant liver disease history,including viral hepatitis\[known carriers of hepatitis B virus(HBV)must exclude active HBV infection,i.e.,HBV DNA positive(\>1×10\^4 copies/mL or\>2000 IU/mL);known hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection and HCV RNA positive(\>1×10\^3 copies/mL),or other hepatitis,cirrhosis;
18. Patients with severe heart,lung,liver,or kidney dysfunction,irreversible coagulation disorders,or other uncontrolled diseases(including hypertension or diabetes,active infections,mental illness,or social conditions that may affect patient compliance);
19. Other factors that may affect patient safety or trial compliance as judged by the investigator.

ii. Additional exclusion criteria for each cohort:

1. Colorectal Cancer :

   a) Patients with uncontrolled hypertension, defined as: patients with hypertension that cannot be well-controlled with a single antihypertensive agent (SBP ≥150 mmHg or DBP ≥100 mmHg); or patients who require two or more antihypertensive medications to control blood pressure.

   b）Patients with urine dipstick proteinuria ≥2+ and a 24-hour urinary protein level \>1.0 g.

   c）Patients with gastrointestinal diseases such as active gastric or duodenal ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or active bleeding from an unresected tumor; or other conditions judged by the investigator as potentially causing gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation.

   d）Patients with evidence or history of a significant bleeding tendency within 3 months prior to enrollment (e.g., bleeding \>30 mL, hematemesis, melena, hematochezia), hemoptysis (\>5 mL of fresh blood within 4 weeks), or a thromboembolic event (including stroke and/or transient ischemic attack) within the past 12 months.

   e）Patients with clinically significant cardiovascular disease, including but not limited to, acute myocardial infarction, severe/unstable angina, or coronary artery bypass grafting within 6 months prior to enrollment.

   f）Congestive heart failure of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class \> II; ventricular arrhythmias requiring medication; or an ECG showing a QTc interval ≥480 milliseconds.

   g）Patients who are unable to take fruquintinib orally.
2. Triple-negative breast cancer :

   a) Patients who have previously received Pucotenlimab treatment;
3. Melanoma :

   1. Patients who have previously received Pucotenlimab treatment;
   2. Patients currently have uncontrolled hypertension,defined as:patients with hypertension that cannot be well controlled with monotherapy(systolic blood pressure≥150 mmHg,or diastolic blood pressure≥100 mmHg);or patients using two or more antihypertensive drugs to control blood pressure;
   3. Urine routine indicates proteinuria≥2+,and 24-hour urine protein\>1.0g;
   4. Significant clinically meaningful cardiovascular diseases,including but not limited to acute myocardial infarction,severe/unstable angina,or coronary artery bypass grafting within 6 months before enrollment;
   5. Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association(NYHA)classification\>2;ventricular arrhythmias requiring drug treatment;electrocardiogram(ECG)showing QTc interval≥480 milliseconds.

Where this trial is running

Shanghai

• Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center — Shanghai, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Hongxia Wang, MD — Fudan University
• Study coordinator: Hongxia Wang, MD

Conditions Triple Negative Breast Cancer Metastatic; Melanoma Metastatic; Colorectal Cancer Metastatic