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Hepatocellular Carcinoma Stage IIIBPhase 2NCT04264260

Evaluation the Palliative Effects of Colchicine on Primary Hepatic Malignant Tumors Unable to Receive Curative Treatment

A Phase 2 study testing Colchicine Tablets in people with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Stage IIIB and Cholangiocarcinoma, Intrahepatic, run by Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This trial is to evaluate the palliative effects of colchicine on primary hepatic malignancy using the Department of Health R.O.C. approved doses and methods of administration. Colchicine will be started from 2 tablets after meal twice per day (total 2 mg), adjust the dose ranging from total minimum 1.5 mg to maximum… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 to 85 years
What is being tested?
Colchicine Tablets
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
42 participants
Where
1 siteTaiwan
Study dates
24 Dec 2019to 30 May 2025
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 20 to 85 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • (A). Primary hepatic malignancy including hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma, poorly differentiated or undifferentiated primary hepatic malignancy.
  • Diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: Patient has at least one of the following criteria: (1) positive for hepatocellular carcinoma evidenced by cytology or pathology, (2) serum alpha-fetoprotein level > 400 ng/mL and has evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma on contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
  • Diagnosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Patient has at least one of the following criteria: (1) evidenced by cytology or pathology, (2) serum CA19-9 level > 10 times of normal upper limit and has evidence on contrast-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and no evidence of extrahepatic original malignancy.
  • Diagnosis of hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma: concomitantly fit at least one of the items described in (a) and (b)
  • Diagnosis of poorly differentiated or undifferentiated primary hepatic malignancy: Patient fits all of the following criteria: (1) evidenced of malignancy other than hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma by cytology or pathology, (2) no evidence of extrahepatic original malignancy
  • (B). Primary hepatic malignant tumors unable to receive curative treatment indicate that the malignancy can not be completely eliminated by operative resection, liver transplantation or local abrasion therapy. Patient also needs to fit at least one of the following criteria: (1) evidence of distant metastasis or large vessels (intrahepatic first branch portal vein, portal main trunk, major hepatic vein or inferior vena cava) invasion, (2) unable to be controlled by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization including appearance of new rather than incompletely treated nodules within 3 months of chemoembolization, or chemoembolization fails
  • (C). The performance status of the patient based on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) belongs to 0 or 1 and the calculated Child score is below 8 points.

Who cannot join

  • . life-threatening hemorrhage at the present time
  • . life-threatening bacterial, fungal or viral infection (not included hepatitis B and C virus) at the present time
  • . extrahepatic original malignancy unable to be controlled
  • . serum creatinine level > 1.5 mg/dL.
  • . Patient must receive long-term statin or fibrates drugs. The doses of these medications can not be altered.
  • . Patient has white blood cell count < 1500/µL, platelet count < 30000/µL or hemoglobin < 9.0 gm/dL after medication.
Show all 15Show fewer
  • . Pregnant woman or plan to be a pregnant woman
  • . allergy to colchicine or has history of severe side effects caused by colchicine
  • . Patient has received systemic chemotherapy within 2 months before enrollment or plans to receive systemic chemotherapy in the future.
  • . Patient is under or plans to receive other clinical trial testing drug.
  • . Patient has severe malfunction of vital organs and can not participate in this study justified by the member of the research team.
  • . Patient is under or plans to receive Chinese traditional medicine or herb drugs.
  • . Patient is under or plans to receive hospice care.
  • . Patient took other clinical trial testing drug within 3 months before enrollment.
  • . Patient can not quit drug abuse or heavy alcohol drinking.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Taiwan1 site

  • Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital

    Kaohsiung City, 807

Other trials in Taiwan

About this study

This trial is to evaluate the palliative effects of colchicine on primary hepatic malignancy using the Department of Health R.O.C. approved doses and methods of administration. Colchicine will be started from 2 tablets after meal twice per day (total 2 mg), adjust the dose ranging from total minimum 1.5 mg to maximum 3 mg per day based on the condition and tolerance of the participant. One cycle of treatment is defined as 4 days treatment and 3 days off. The participants will receive repeated treatment cycles till the participants quit the trial. The control group will be originated from review of (1) patients treated by members of this research team with the same condition as the trial selected participants but not included in the trial, (2) patients with same condition as the trial selected participants reported in the literatures. The primary objective is to evaluate the palliative effects of colchicine on primary hepatic malignancy unable to receive curative treatment. The primary end point is survival of the participant. The Secondary objective is to evaluate the safety of patients treated by colchicine and the secondary end point is the side effects of colchicine.

Read the detailed description

Study procedures

  1. Written informed consent before study specific procedures are undertaken. The investigators will explain the contents of the trial especially the information about the possible side effects, other alternative treatment and the right to withdraw based on the participant own willing to the candidates. Patient can choose to sign or not to sign the inform consent based on his/her own decision after completely understanding the investigators explanation.
  2. The process of the experiment

Start to receive colchicine:

Participant will start to receive colchicine starting from 2 tablets after meal twice per day (total 2 mg).

Adjustment the dosage of colchicine during study: based on the following steps:

2 tablets-2 tablets-2 tablets (three times per day, after meal, total 3 mg, maximum dose)<-> 2 tablets -1 tablet -2 tablets (three times per day, after meal, total 2.5 mg)<->2 tablets -2 tablets (twice per day, after meal, 2 mg, starting dose)<->1 tablet -1 tablet -1 tablet (three times per day, after meal, 1.5 mg, minimum dose)

  1. The colchicine dosage will be changed when the hepatic reserved function of the participant changes to Child score 8-9 points according to the following rules.
  2. 1 tablet after meal three times per day with total dose of 1.5 mg; continue 4 days and stop for 3 days (1 cycle)
  3. If the hepatic reserved function of the participant returns to Child score < 8 points, the dosage changes to starting dose.
  4. If the hepatic reserved function of the participant changes to Child score > 9 points, colchicine will be stopped and participant receives regular follow-up only.
  5. If participant suffers from severe diarrhea, colchicine will be temporarily stopped. When the symptom of diarrhea subsides, colchicine will be given again according to the above steps of dose adjustment.
  6. If the participant has one of the following conditions, colchicine will be temporarily stopped. When the condition of the participant improves, colchicine will be given again after the judgment from the doctor of the research team. For participants unable to receive colchicine again, they will receive regular follow-up only.
  7. . There are life-threatening hemorrhage including gastrointestinal hemorrhage and hemorrhage from other vital organs such as lungs or brain.
  8. . There are life-threatening bacterial, fungal or viral infection (not included hepatitis B and C virus).
  9. . Patient has serum creatinine level > 1.5 mg/dL.
  10. . Patient has white blood cell count < 1500/µL, platelet count < 30000/µL or hemoglobin < 9.0 gm/dL after medication.
  11. . The research team decides that the participant is not suitable to continue the study caused by abnormality of any vital organ or severe side effects caused by the study.
  12. Colchicine will be temporarily stopped before non-curative operative resection of tumor or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization until participant has body temperature < 38 ℃, same hepatic reserved function as before, and serum creatinine level < 1.5 mg/dL.
  13. no need to stop colchicine during irradiation therapy, pure ethanol injection or local radiofrequency abrasion
  14. Colchicine needs to be temporarily reduced to half of the original dose when the participant will temporarily take P-Glycoprotein inhibitor or strong Cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitor.

The conditions for the participant to withdraw or terminate the trial:

  1. Participant suffers from systemic itching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, or skin rash after colchicine administration.
  2. Participant is unable to tolerate 1.5 mg total daily dose of colchicine for at least 4 cycles. This does not include temporarily reduce dose to total 1 mg during temporarily application of P-Glycoprotein inhibitor or strong Cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitor.

Follow-up procedures and items for the participants to co-operate:

All participants will be followed according to the guide line of the National Health Council and the clinical practice in the treatment of hepatic malignancy. Ultrasonography, contrasted-enhanced computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging will be performed within every 3 to 4 months. Chest x-ray and whole body bone scan will be followed based on the condition of the participants. Serum alpha-fetoprotein or CA19-9 will be determined within 3 months in participants with abnormal original levels. The complete blood count, hepatic and renal function will be determined at least one session every month. The participants are asked to visit investigators' outpatient clinic at least one session every month.

Concomitant treatment:

  1. Permitted: non-curative operative resection of the tumor, local abrasion therapy, local irradiation therapy, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, target therapy, immunotherapy
  2. Prohibited: systemic chemotherapy, other clinical trial testing drugs, Chinese traditional medicine, herb drugs

Statistical analysis

1.Statistical Method for Efficacy / Safety measurements: (A) Survival analysis for efficacy: (log-rank test and median survival)

  • colchicine combined with other therapy is better than other therapy without target drug or immunotherapy
  • colchicine combined with other therapy is not inferior than target drug or immunotherapy combined with other therapy (B) Safety measurements The safety assessment is presented in a narrative statistical manner for the collection of participants' severe adverse events and adverse events.
Being tested
Colchicine Tablets
Keywords
hepatocellular carcinoma, Cholangiocarcinoma, primary hepatic malignancy, palliative treatment, colchicine
Medical subject headings
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Cholangiocarcinoma, Liver Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Colchicine TabletsDrug

    three times or two times per day after meal with the daily total dose ranging from 1.5 to 3 mg

Study groups in NCT04264260
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
colchicine groupExperimentalThe participants will receive colchicine starting from 2 tablets after meal twice per day (total 2 mg). The dose will be adjusted ranging from total minimum 1.5 mg to maximum 3 mg per day based on the condition and tolerance of the participant. One cycle of treatment is defined as 4 days treatment and 3 days off. The participants will receive repeated cycles till the participants quit the trial.
Receives: Drug: Colchicine Tablets

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. survival

    The overall survival of the participants

    Measured: through study completion, an average of 31 months

Secondary outcomes (1)

  1. serious adverse effect

    The events of serious adverse effect occurred during the study

    Measured: through study completion, an average of 31 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Feb 2020
  2. Study start24 Dec 2019
  3. Primary completion30 May 2025
  4. Study completion30 May 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
open labeled
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
42 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04264260
Sponsor's protocol ID
KMUHIRB-F(II)-20190152
Status last verified
Aug 2025
First submitted
2 Feb 2020
Last updated
8 Sep 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Arrieta O, Rodriguez-Diaz JL, Rosas-Camargo V, Morales-Espinosa D, Ponce de Leon S, Kershenobich D, Leon-Rodriguez E. Colchicine delays the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis virus-related liver cirrhosis. Cancer. 2006 Oct 15;107(8):1852-8. doi: 10.1002/cncr.22198.

    PubMed 16967451

  • Finkelstein Y, Aks SE, Hutson JR, Juurlink DN, Nguyen P, Dubnov-Raz G, Pollak U, Koren G, Bentur Y. Colchicine poisoning: the dark side of an ancient drug. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2010 Jun;48(5):407-14. doi: 10.3109/15563650.2010.495348.

    PubMed 20586571

  • Imazio M, Bobbio M, Cecchi E, Demarie D, Demichelis B, Pomari F, Moratti M, Gaschino G, Giammaria M, Ghisio A, Belli R, Trinchero R. Colchicine in addition to conventional therapy for acute pericarditis: results of the COlchicine for acute PEricarditis (COPE) trial. Circulation. 2005 Sep 27;112(13):2012-6. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.542738.

    PubMed 16186437

  • Kallinich T, Haffner D, Niehues T, Huss K, Lainka E, Neudorf U, Schaefer C, Stojanov S, Timmann C, Keitzer R, Ozdogan H, Ozen S. Colchicine use in children and adolescents with familial Mediterranean fever: literature review and consensus statement. Pediatrics. 2007 Feb;119(2):e474-83. doi: 10.1542/peds.2006-1434. Epub 2007 Jan 22.

    PubMed 17242135

  • Leighton JA, Bay MK, Maldonado AL, Schenker S, Speeg KV. Colchicine clearance is impaired in alcoholic cirrhosis. Hepatology. 1991 Dec;14(6):1013-5.

    PubMed 1959847

  • Rochdi M, Sabouraud A, Girre C, Venet R, Scherrmann JM. Pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability of colchicine after i.v. and oral administration in healthy human volunteers and elderly subjects. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1994;46(4):351-4. doi: 10.1007/BF00194404.

    PubMed 7957521

  • Ferron GM, Rochdi M, Jusko WJ, Scherrmann JM. Oral absorption characteristics and pharmacokinetics of colchicine in healthy volunteers after single and multiple doses. J Clin Pharmacol. 1996 Oct;36(10):874-83. doi: 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1996.tb04753.x.

    PubMed 8930773

  • Terkeltaub RA, Furst DE, Bennett K, Kook KA, Crockett RS, Davis MW. High versus low dosing of oral colchicine for early acute gout flare: Twenty-four-hour outcome of the first multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-comparison colchicine study. Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Apr;62(4):1060-8. doi: 10.1002/art.27327.

    PubMed 20131255

  • Lin ZY, Wu CC, Chuang YH, Chuang WL. Anti-cancer mechanisms of clinically acceptable colchicine concentrations on hepatocellular carcinoma. Life Sci. 2013 Sep 3;93(8):323-8. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2013.07.002. Epub 2013 Jul 16.

    PubMed 23871804

  • Wu CC, Lin ZY, Kuoc CH, Chuang WL. Clinically acceptable colchicine concentrations have potential for the palliative treatment of human cholangiocarcinoma. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2015 May;31(5):229-34. doi: 10.1016/j.kjms.2015.01.008. Epub 2015 Mar 10.

    PubMed 25910557

  • Lin ZY, Kuo CH, Wu DC, Chuang WL. Anticancer effects of clinically acceptable colchicine concentrations on human gastric cancer cell lines. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2016 Feb;32(2):68-73. doi: 10.1016/j.kjms.2015.12.006. Epub 2016 Feb 2.

    PubMed 26944324

  • Lin ZY, Yeh ML, Liang PC, Chen SC, Huang CF, Huang JF, Dai CY, Yu ML, Chuang WL. Phase IIb Trial for the Palliative Treatment of Patients With Primary Hepatic Malignancy Unable to Receive Curative Treatment: Efficacy of Colchicine. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2026 May;42(5):e70121. doi: 10.1002/kjm2.70121. Epub 2025 Sep 27.

    PubMed 41014140

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Colchicine Tablets in people with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Stage IIIB and Cholangiocarcinoma, Intrahepatic, run by Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 15 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

survival (time frame: through study completion, an average of 31 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04264260, which also lists 12 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Sep 2025.

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