AzTrials
AzTrials

Hepatocellular CarcinomaPhase 2NCT06526338

Adjuvant IP-001 Treatment for HCC Patients Following Surgical Resection and Ablation or Ablation Alone

A Phase 2 study testing 1.0% IP-001 for injection, Surgical Resection and Local Ablation and Local Ablation Alone in people with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, run by Robert C. Martin at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of administration of intratumoral IP-001 injection at different dosages (volume and concentration) following local microwave ablation (MWA) or surgical resection and ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
What is being tested?
1.0% IP-001 for injection, Surgical Resection and Local Ablation and Local Ablation Alone
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
315 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
24 Jul 2024to Dec 2030
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age ≥ 18 years at time of signing Informed Consent.
  • Has a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) documented radiologically by American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) criteria and/or histopathologically from a tumor biopsy.
  • Has a treatment plan to receive a curative ablation (MWA only) or a curative surgical resection and ablation, or where the patient may benefit from surgery and ablation or ablation prior to receiving anti-cancer therapy.
  • Has HCC with intermediate, high or very high risk of recurrence.
  • Has hepatic only HCC (disease confined to the liver only), defined by no extra-hepatic lesions greater than 1 cm in size.
  • Has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1.
Show all 29Show fewer
  • Patient with past or ongoing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection will be eligible if the patient has completed HCV treatment at least 1 month prior to Day 1.
  • Patient with controlled hepatitis B will be eligible if the patient meets the following criteria:
  • Antiviral therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV) must be given for at least 4 weeks, and HBV viral load must be less than 500 IU/mL prior to treatment. Patients on active HBV therapy with viral loads under 500 IU/mL should stay on the same therapy throughout study treatment.
  • Patients who are hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) positive, negative for HBsAg, and negative or positive for anti- HBs, and who have an HBV viral load under 500 IU/mL do not require HBV anti-viral prophylaxis.
  • Patients who are not exposed to unreasonable risks by continued use of the investigational agent in spite of progression of disease. Such criteria may include the following:
  • Absence of symptoms and signs indicating clinically significant progression of disease.
  • No decline in performance status, as measured by ECOG or Karnofsky or both.
  • Absence of symptomatic rapid disease progression requiring urgent medical intervention.
  • Ensure that patients are reconsenting to treatment with the Informed Consent clearly stating that retreatment is not standard of care.
  • Has adequate organ function as specified in the Adequate Organ Function Laboratory Values Table. Specimens must be collected within 14 days prior to Day 1.
  • Hematological: Absolute neutrophil count ≥1500/µL or ANC of ≤1500/µL if there is a stable medical history of neutropenia per provider discretion; Platelets ≥40,000/µL; Hemoglobin ≥8.0 g/dL.
  • Renal: Creatinine OR measured or calculated creatinine clearance (GFR can also be used in place of creatinine or CrCl) ≤1.5 × ULN OR GFR ≥30 mL/min for patients with creatinine levels >1.5 × institutional ULN
  • Hepatic: Total bilirubin ≤2 mg/dL OR direct bilirubin ≤ULN for patients with total bilirubin levels >2 mg/dL; AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤5 × ULN; Albumin (c) >2.6 g/dL
  • Coagulation: International normalized ratio (INR) OR prothrombin time (PT) ≤1.5 × ULN unless patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants
  • Retreatment Inclusion Criteria:
  • Patients receiving retreatment with IP-001 following intrahepatic recurrence must satisfy all of the following:
  • Radiographic recurrence remains amenable to curative-intent thermal ablation.
  • No symptomatic rapid disease progression requiring urgent systemic therapy or palliative intervention.
  • ECOG performance status remains 0-2.
  • No evidence of clinically significant hepatic decompensation.
  • No extrahepatic disease that would preclude additional local therapy.
  • The Investigator determines that additional thermal ablation remains clinically appropriate.
  • The patient continues to satisfy protocol safety requirements.

Who cannot join

  • Known allergic reaction to shellfish, crabs, crustacean, or any trial components used in trial treatment.
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or currently receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent), or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to treatment day (Day 1), or has plans to start treatment including >10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent or any immunotherapy.
  • Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents or immunosuppressive drugs). NOTE: replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine or insulin) is not considered a form of systemic treatment and is allowed.
  • Has had an allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant, or eligible for a liver transplant and/or on the liver transplantation waiting list.
  • History of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, organizing pneumonia (e.g., bronchiolitis obliterans), drug-induced pneumonitis, active tuberculosis, or idiopathic pneumonitis.
Show all 18Show fewer
  • Has received local therapy to the liver, ablation other than microwave ablation (i.e., alcohol ablation, transcatheter chemoembolization, transcatheter embolization, hepatic arterial infusion, local radiation/Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy or radioembolization) less than 3 months prior to treatment.
  • Is receiving any of the following prohibited concomitant therapies less than 21 days from treatment or 5 drug elimination half-lives, whichever is shorter, prior to randomization:
  • Antineoplastic systemic chemotherapy or biological therapy.
  • Immunotherapy not specified in this protocol.
  • Systemic glucocorticoids for any purpose other than to modulate symptoms from an adverse event (AE) that is suspected to have an immunologic etiology. Inhaled or topical steroids are allowed, and systemic steroids at doses ≤10 mg/day prednisone or equivalent are allowed. Exception: steroids may be used for premedication prior to imaging.
  • Has received a live vaccine within 28 days prior to treatment Day 1.
  • Retreatment Exclusion Criteria:
  • Development of symptomatic extrahepatic disease.
  • ECOG >2 attributable to cancer progression.
  • Rapid multifocal progression requiring systemic therapy.
  • Investigator determination that further local therapy is unlikely to provide meaningful clinical benefit.
  • Withdrawal of consent.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Robert Martin, MD, PhD contact

502-629-3355

robert.martin@louisville.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • University of Louisville

    Louisville, Kentucky, 40202

    Robert Martin, MD, PHD, 502-629-3355, robert.martin@louisville.edu

    Robert Martin, MD, PhD

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Randomized Phase 2 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of IP-001 as Adjuvant Therapy in Participants With Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Complete Radiological Response After Surgical Resection and Local Ablation or Local Ablation Alone

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of administration of intratumoral IP-001 injection at different dosages (volume and concentration) following local microwave ablation (MWA) or surgical resection and ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Read the detailed description

This is a Phase 2, five-armed, randomized study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of administration of intratumoral IP-001 injection at different dosages (volume and concentration) following local ablation or surgical resection and local ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have an intermediate or high risk of recurrence compared to curative ablation or ablation and surgical resection.

Being tested
1.0% IP-001 for injection, Surgical Resection and Local Ablation, Local Ablation Alone
Medical subject headings
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

What participants receive

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

  • 1.0% IP-001 for injectionDrug

    Participants will receive intratumoral injection of 1.0% IP-001 following local microwave ablation or surgical resection and local microwave ablation

  • Surgical Resection and Local AblationProcedure or surgery

    Participants will undergo surgical resection of the tumor and local microwave ablation

  • Local Ablation AloneProcedure or surgery

    Participants will have local ablation of the tumor by microwave ablation alone

Study groups in NCT06526338
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Arm A: Participants with ≤3 hepatic tumors that can be treated in one ablation sessionExperimentalParticipants will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive intratumoral injection of IP-001 (10 mg/mL, 4 mL [low volume]) immediately following local microwave ablation or surgical resection and local microwave ablation
Receives: Drug: 1.0% IP-001 for injection; Procedure: Surgical Resection and Local Ablation; Procedure: Local Ablation Alone
Arm B: Participants with ≤3 hepatic tumors that can be treated in one ablation sessionActive comparatorParticipants will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive local microwave ablation or surgical resection and local microwave ablation alone
Receives: Procedure: Surgical Resection and Local Ablation; Procedure: Local Ablation Alone
Arm C: Participants with ≤3 hepatic tumors that can be treated in one ablation sessionExperimentalParticipants will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive intratumoral injection of IP-001 (10 mg/mL, up to 12 mL [high volume]) immediately following local microwave ablation or surgical resection and local microwave ablation
Receives: Drug: 1.0% IP-001 for injection; Procedure: Surgical Resection and Local Ablation; Procedure: Local Ablation Alone
Arm D: Participants with >3 hepatic tumors that can be treated in more than one ablation sessionExperimentalParticipants will be randomized 1:1 to receive intratumoral injection of IP-001 (10mg/mL [high concentration], up to 12 mL) immediately following local microwave ablation or surgical resection and local microwave ablation
Receives: Drug: 1.0% IP-001 for injection; Procedure: Surgical Resection and Local Ablation; Procedure: Local Ablation Alone
Arm E: Participants with >3 hepatic tumors that can be treated in more than one ablation sessionExperimentalParticipants will be randomized 1:1 to receive intratumoral injection of diluted IP-001 (1 mg/mL [low concentration], up to 12 mL) immediately following local microwave ablation or surgical resection and local microwave ablation
Receives: Drug: 1.0% IP-001 for injection; Procedure: Surgical Resection and Local Ablation; Procedure: Local Ablation Alone

What is being measured

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

  1. Recurrence Free Survival

    Radiological assessments (Triphasic CT or MRI) of the chest, abdomen and pelvis will occur every 12 weeks for the first 2 years, then every 24 weeks thereafter. Recurrence will be determined by the investigator's radiological review per RECIST v1.1

    Measured: From Date of Randomization until date of documented progression, assessed up to 60 months

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Cancer Free Survival

    Participants will be followed every 12 weeks from treatment Day 1 for the first 2 years, and every 24 weeks thereafter until disease related death.

    Measured: Months 12 and 24

  2. Overall Survival

    Participants will be followed every 12 weeks from treatment Day 1 for the first 2 years, and every 24 weeks thereafter until death of any cause.

    Measured: Months 12 and 24

  3. Overall Survival Rate

    Proportion of participants who have not experienced death from treatment Day 1 at 12 and 24 months after treatment.

    Measured: Months 12 and 24

  4. Recurrence Free Survival Rate

    Assessed from treatment Day 1 to documentation of disease recurrence or extrahepatic) or death, whichever occurs first.

    Measured: Months 12 and 24

  5. Time to Intrahepatic Tumor Recurrence

    Radiological assessments (Triphasic CT or MRI) of the chest, abdomen and pelvis will occur every 12 weeks for the first 2 years, then every 24 weeks thereafter. Recurrence will be determined by the investigator's radiological review per RECIST v1.1

    Measured: From Date of Randomization until date of documented progression, assessed up to 60 months

  6. Time to Extrahepatic Tumor Recurrence

    Radiological assessments (Triphasic CT or MRI) of the chest, abdomen and pelvis will occur every 12 weeks for the first 2 years, then every 24 weeks thereafter. Recurrence will be determined by the investigator's radiological review per RECIST v1.1

    Measured: From Date of Randomization until date of documented progression, assessed up to 60 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted29 Jul 2024
  2. Study start24 Jul 2024
  3. Primary completionDec 2029 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2030 (estimated)

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
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
315 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06526338
Sponsor's protocol ID
24.0321
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
23 Jul 2024
Last updated
4 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing 1.0% IP-001 for injection, Surgical Resection and Local Ablation and Local Ablation Alone in people with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, run by Robert C. Martin at 1 site in United States.

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 29 inclusion and 18 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Sep 2026. 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 United States. 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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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

Contact Robert Martin, MD, PhD (502-629-3355, robert.martin@louisville.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Recurrence Free Survival (time frame: From Date of Randomization until date of documented progression, assessed up to 60 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 4 Sep 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in