Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 and up

Cryoablation with Sintilimab and Regorafenib for Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer

Official title: A Phase II Study of Cryoablation Combined with Sintilimab Plus Regorafenib in Previously Treated Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis (CASTLE-03)

Run by Fudan University · NCT05057052 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if combining a freezing treatment with two medications can help people with liver cancer from colorectal cancer who haven't responded to previous treatments.

More Liver Metastases trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment25 (estimated)
SponsorFudan University
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsnivolumab, Sintilimab, ipilimumab, chemotherapy
Locations1 site (Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 26, 2021
Main results expectedSeptember 25, 2026
Study endsSeptember 25, 2026
Registry record updatedFebruary 27, 2025
Trial IDNCT05057052 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with colorectal cancer liver metastasis who have failed at least two systemic chemotherapy regimens.

Probably not a fit

Patients who have not received prior systemic chemotherapy or those with significant comorbidities affecting treatment tolerance may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of combining cryoablation with the drugs Sintilimab and Regorafenib in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer who have previously undergone treatment. The approach aims to enhance the immune response against tumors by using cryoablation to destroy tumor tissue, which may activate immune cells, alongside PD-1 blockade and targeted therapy. Participants must have experienced failure of at least two prior chemotherapy regimens and have measurable disease as defined by imaging criteria.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment combination could provide a new therapeutic option for patients with advanced colorectal cancer liver metastases who have limited treatment options.

How similar studies have gone: While the combination of cryoablation with immunotherapy and targeted therapy is promising, it is a relatively novel approach and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Written informed consent obtained.
* Age ≥ 18 years at time of study entry.
* Participants must have colorectal cancer liver metastasis.
* Participants must have failed at least two previous systemic chemotherapy regimens (containing fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) in the liver metastatic setting.
* Participants who had received previous antiangiogenic or anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy were eligible.
* At least one measurable site of disease as defined by RECIST criteria with spiral CT scan or MRI.
* Performance status (PS) ≤ 2 (ECOG scale).
* Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
* Adequate blood count, liver-enzymes, and renal function: absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/L, platelets ≥75 x103/L; Total bilirubin ≤ 3x upper normal limit; Aspartate Aminotransferase (SGOT), Alanine aminotransferase (SGPT) ≤ 5 x upper normal limit (ULN); International normalized ratio (INR) ≤1.25; Albumin ≥ 31 g/dL; Serum Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x institutional ULN or creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 30 mL/min (if using the Cockcroft-Gault formula )
* Female patients with reproductive potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to start of trial.
* Subject is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study including undergoing treatment, adherence to contraceptive measures, scheduled visits and examinations including follow up.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of cardiac disease, including clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding within 4 weeks prior to start of study treatment
* Thrombotic or embolic events such as cerebrovascular accident (including transient ischemic attacks), deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within the 6 months Prior to the first dose of study drug with the exception of thrombosis of a segmental portal vein.
* Prior treatment with cryoablation.
* Prior treatment with regorafenib.
* RFA and resection administered less then 4 weeks prior to study treatment start.
* Radiotherapy administered less then 4 weeks prior to study treatment start.
* Major surgery within 4 weeks of starting the study treatment OR subjects who have not recovered from effects of major surgery.
* Patients with second primary cancer, except adequately treated basal skin cancer or carcinoma in-situ of the cervix.
* Immunocompromised patients, e.g. patients who are known to be serologically positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
* Participation in another clinical study with an investigational product during the last 30 days before inclusion or 7 half-lifes of previously used trial medication, whichever is longer.
* Any condition or comorbidity that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with evaluation of study Treatment or interpretation of patient safety or study results, including but not limited to:

  1. history of interstitial lung disease
  2. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) coinfection (i.e double infection)
  3. known acute or chronic pancreatitis
  4. active tuberculosis
  5. any other active infection (viral, fungal or bacterial) requiring systemic therapy
  6. history of allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant
  7. diagnosis of immunodeficiency or patient is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of nivolumab-monotherapy treatment.
  8. Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents. Exceptions: Subjects with vitiligo, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus type I or resolved childhood asthma/atopy are an exception to this rule. Subjects that require intermittent use of bronchodilators or local steroid injections would not be excluded from the study. Subjects with Hashimoto thyroiditis, hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement or psoriasis not requiring treatment are not excluded from the study.
  9. Live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of Sintilimab treatment or during study treatment.
  10. History or clinical evidence of Central Nervous System (CNS) metastases Exceptions are: Subjects who have completed local therapy and who meet both of the following criteria: I. are asymptomatic and II. have no requirement for steroids 6 weeks prior to start of Sintilimab treatment. Screening with CNS imaging (CT or MRI) is required only if clinically indicated or if the subject has a history of CNS
* Medication that is known to interfere with any of the agents applied in the trial.
* Any other efficacious cancer treatment except protocol specified treatment at study start.
* Patient has received any other investigational product within 28 days of study entry.
* Prior therapy with an anti-Programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1), anti-PD-L1, anti-Programmed cell death-ligand 2 (anti-PD-L2), anti-CD137 (4-1BB ligand, a member of the Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor (TNFR) family), or anti-Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (anti-CTLA-4) antibody (including ipilimumab or any other antibody or drug specifically targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways).
* Female subjects who are pregnant, breast-feeding or male/female patients of reproductive potential who are not employing an effective method of birth control (failure rate of less than 1% per year). \[Acceptable methods of contraception are: implants, injectable contraceptives, combined oral contraceptives, intrauterine pessars (only hormonal devices), sexual abstinence or vasectomy of the partner\]. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test (serum β-HCG) at screening.
* Patient with any significant history of non-compliance to medical regimens or with inability to grant reliable informed consent.

Where it's running

  • Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.