Liver cancer immunotherapy guided by multi-omic liquid biopsy

Liver Cancer and Immunotherapy : Clinical Relevance of LIquid BioPSY

Not applicable Interventional University Hospital, Montpellier · NCT05810402

This project will test whether a multi-omic liquid biopsy can predict which adults with advanced (BCLC B or C) hepatocellular carcinoma will benefit from first-line PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Montpellier Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy, atezolizumab, bevacizumab
Locations1 site (Montpellier)
Trial IDNCT05810402 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, single-center study enrolling adults with advanced HCC (BCLC stage B or C) who are candidates for first-line PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy and have not received prior systemic therapy. Blood samples will be collected at multiple time points and analyzed using a multi-omic liquid biopsy approach (circulating tumor cells with PD-L1, circulating tumor DNA, extracellular vesicles, microRNA, etc.). The study will compare liquid biopsy findings with tissue PD-L1 expression and treatment outcomes to identify predictive biomarkers of immunotherapy response. Results aim to clarify whether blood-based markers correlate with tumor tissue and can be used to guide treatment decisions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18 years) with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (BCLC stage B or C), no prior systemic anti-cancer therapy, and a planned first-line PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy who can provide informed consent are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients who have received prior systemic anti-tumor therapy, have recent other cancers, active systemic inflammatory or immunosuppressive conditions, are pregnant, or cannot give informed consent are unlikely to benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help doctors predict who will respond to immunotherapy and personalize treatment to improve outcomes and avoid ineffective therapy.

How similar studies have performed: Liquid-biopsy and multi-omic approaches have shown promise in other solid tumors, but reliable predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors in HCC remain largely unproven.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients of at least 18 years old,
* Patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC with indication for first-line PD-1 or PD-L1 immunotherapy in MDT, without prior systemic therapy,
* The diagnosis of HCC is established according to imaging criteria (LI-RADSv2018 criteria) or after histological evidence,
* Advanced HCC defined by BCLC stages B and C,
* Patients with oral consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Administration of a previous systemic anti-tumor treatment (immunotherapy or chemotherapy or targeted therapy)
* No personal history of neoplasia in the previous 5 years
* No personal history of systemic inflammatory diseases
* No immunosuppressive treatment or treatment that could modify immunity (anti-TNF...)
* No affiliation or non-beneficiary of a Social Security system;
* Vulnerable persons according to article L1121-6 of the CSP ;
* Persons of full age who are protected or unable to give their consent according to article L1121-8 of the CSP;
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women according to article L1121-5 of the CSP.
* Non-inclusion due to follow-up difficulties (transfer, insufficient motivation, poor compliance, priority associated pathology in care, etc.)

Where this trial is running

Montpellier

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Hepatocellular CarcinomaBCLC Stage B Hepatocellular CarcinomaBCLC Stage C Hepatocellular CarcinomaImmune Checkpoint InhibitorLiquid BiopsyBCLC Stage B and CPrecision Medicine
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.