Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 to 75

TACE or Ablation With Sintilimab and Ipilimumab Before Surgery for Liver Cancer

Official title: TACE or Ablation Combined With Sintilimab and Ipilimumab N01 as Neoadjuvant Therapy for Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Intermediate-High Recurrence Risk: A Multicenter, Multigroup, Randomized, Phase Ⅱ Exploratory Clinical Trial

Run by Sun Yat-sen University · NCT07487662 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests whether combining local tumor treatments with immunotherapy before surgery helps people with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma at higher risk of recurrence.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
Enrollment105 (estimated)
SponsorSun Yat-sen University
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsprednisone, camrelizumab, apatinib, lenvatinib, immunotherapy
Locations1 site (Guangzhou, Guangdong)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMarch 20, 2026
Main results expectedMarch 19, 2028
Study endsMarch 19, 2028
Registry record updatedOctober 27, 2026
Trial IDNCT07487662 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18–75 with resectable CNLC stage Ib–IIIa hepatocellular carcinoma, good performance status, and adequate organ function who have not received prior tumor-directed therapy.

Probably not a fit

Patients with tumors not responsive to immunotherapy or those unable to tolerate the combination therapy may not benefit and could experience treatment-related risks.

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

What this trial studies

This phase 2 trial explores neoadjuvant therapy starting before liver tumor resection for hepatocellular carcinoma classified as intermediate to high recurrence risk. Participants receive a combination of local therapies (TACE or ablation) with immunotherapy (syntilimab and ipilimumab) and possibly a targeted agent (lenvatinib) as part of the preoperative regimen. The goal is to see if this approach reduces postoperative recurrence and extends recurrence-free survival compared with surgery alone. Eligible patients are adults with resectable CNLC stage Ib–IIIa HCC, adequate organ function, and good performance status. The study is sponsored by Sun Yat-sen University with collaboration from Innovent Biologics and is conducted at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience longer periods without cancer returning after surgery and potentially improved long-term outcomes.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies combining immunotherapy with targeted therapy or local tumor treatments in HCC have shown signals of reduced recurrence, but results for neoadjuvant strategies with this exact combination are still being established.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* 1\) Age: 18-75 years old; 2) Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) classified as CNLC stage Ib-IIIa (excluding patients with Vp3 and Vp4), and deemed resectable by multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion;

  3\) No prior tumor-related treatment received;

  4\) At least one measurable target lesion according to the RECIST 1.1 criteria;

  5\) ECOG PS score of 0-1;

  6\) Liver function classification: Child-Pugh Class A;

  7\) Estimated survival time ≥ 12 weeks;

  8\) Hematological, liver, and renal functions meet the following criteria:
  1. Hemoglobin concentration ≥ 90 g/L;
  2. Neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L;
  3. Platelet count ≥ 75 × 10⁹/L;
  4. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN (Upper Limit of Normal);
  5. AST and ALT \< 5 × ULN; ALP \< 4 × ULN;
  6. Creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN;
  7. INR ≤ 1.5 × ULN; APTT ≤ 1.5 × ULN;
  8. Serum albumin concentration ≥ 30 g/L;

     9\) Women of childbearing age must be excluded from pregnancy;

     10\) For patients with other concurrent malignant tumors, MDT discussion must confirm that the history and treatment history of other tumors will not interfere with the efficacy and safety evaluation of this study protocol;

     11\) Ability to understand and sign the informed consent form.

     Exclusion Criteria:
* 1\) Prior history of HCC treatment; 2) Tumor rupture and bleeding, or suspected peritoneal metastasis;

  3\) History of other complex surgeries within 6 weeks;

  4\) Prior history of organ transplantation;

  5\) Currently receiving treatment in other clinical trials;

  6\) Prior history of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders (such as inflammatory bowel disease, etc.), diverticulitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis syndrome, Wegener's syndrome (granulomatosis with polyangiitis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.), except for the following cases: vitiligo or alopecia areata, hypothyroidism with stable condition after drug replacement therapy, chronic skin diseases that do not require systemic treatment, and celiac disease controllable by diet alone;

  7\) Prior history of allergy to anti-PD1 drugs, TKI or anti-CTLA4 drugs, or allergy to chemical molecules similar to the above drugs, or prior severe allergic reaction to other monoclonal antibodies;

  8\) Uncontrollable intermittent recurrent diseases, including but not limited to: persistent infections (including tuberculosis), hypertension uncontrollable by drugs (\> 140/90 mmHg), interstitial lung disease, severe chronic gastrointestinal diseases complicated with diarrhea, mental illness or social disorders that cannot comply with clinical research requirements, factors with high risk of side effects, and inability to sign the informed consent form;

  9\) Patients with prior hepatic encephalopathy, refractory ascites, or esophagogastric varices with high bleeding risk; patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding within 1 year before the first administration;

  10\) Untreated active hepatitis B subjects (HBsAg positive and HBV-DNA exceeding 5000 copies/mL (1000 IU/mL) or higher than the lower limit of detection, whichever is higher); for subjects with hepatitis B, anti-hepatitis B virus treatment is required during the study treatment; active hepatitis C subjects (HCV antibody positive and HCV-RNA level higher than the lower limit of detection);

  11\) Patients with primary brain tumors (except meningiomas or other benign brain tumors), or any brain metastases, leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, epilepsy uncontrollable by conventional drugs, or new-onset stroke within 1 year;

  12\) Primary immunodeficiency disease;

  13\) Prior positive HIV test or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS);

  14\) Use of immunosuppressive drugs within 14 days before the start of study treatment. The following situations are exempt:
  1. Intranasal, inhaled, topically used steroids or local steroid injections;
  2. Systemic application of corticosteroids not exceeding the physiological dose (e.g., 10 mg/day prednisone or its equivalent);
  3. Steroid application for the treatment of allergic reactions;

     15\) Vaccination with live-attenuated vaccines within 30 days before the start of study treatment. Note: Live-attenuated vaccines should also be avoided during the study treatment and within 30 days after the end of treatment;

     16\) Receipt of systemic immunostimulant treatment within the prior 4 weeks;

     17\) Prior history of severe systemic diseases, including: myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris, hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy, congestive heart failure of NYHA Class II or above, unstable symptomatic arrhythmia requiring drug intervention, severe vascular disease or symptomatic peripheral vascular disease, occurring within 12 months before the start of study treatment;

     18\) History of coagulative, hemorrhagic or thrombotic diseases within 12 months before the start of study treatment;

     19\) Severe, irreversible trauma, ulcers or fractures;

     20\) Pregnant or lactating women, or subjects planning to have children during the trial period;

     21\) Dependent on parenteral nutrition to maintain life;

     22\) Other acute or chronic diseases, mental and psychological diseases, etc., which are not suitable for participating in this study, as judged by the researcher.

Where it's running

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University
    Guangzhou, Guangdong, 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.