Hepatocellular CarcinomaNCT06929845
Organoid Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
A study testing organoids models in people with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Organoids, run by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS at 1 site in Italy.
Trial summary
A promising tool to elucidate the molecular characteristics of HCC are patient-derived organoids (PDOs), three-dimensional cultures of cells that self-organise according to tissue-specific patterns and can be used to test the susceptibility of a specific tumour to anticancer agents. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Organoids, Gut Microbiota
- What is being tested?
- organoids models
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 150 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2024to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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
- Capacity to express informed consent;
- Age ≥18 years;
- Suspected radiological diagnosis of HCC or diagnosis of HCC with indications for surgical resection.
Who cannot join
- Age < 18 years;
- Contraindications to liver biopsy (ascites, platelets<50,000, INR>1.7);
- Contraindications to HCC resection surgery;
- Active viral infection;
- Refusal to sign informed consent to participate in the study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Italy1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, UOC CEMAD, Largo A. Gemelli, 8
Roma, 00168
Francesca Romana Ponziani, +393471227242, francescaromana.ponziani@policlinicogemelli.it
Francesca Romana Ponziani
About this study
Official title: Organoid Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Test Treatment Efficacy, Exploring Correlations With Tumor Microenvironment and Gut-liver-tumor Axis.
A promising tool to elucidate the molecular characteristics of HCC are patient-derived organoids (PDOs), three-dimensional cultures of cells that self-organise according to tissue-specific patterns and can be used to test the susceptibility of a specific tumour to anticancer agents. In this study, PDOs for HCC will be developed that closely resemble the tumour microenvironment in vivo and mimic the crosstalk of the gut-liver axis to establish a correlation with patient prognosis and test the efficacy of available systemic therapies.
Read the detailed description
The objectives of the project will be 1) to develop HCC PDOs from tumour and non-tumour patient liver tissue obtained from surgical specimens or liver biopsies; 2) to evaluate genomic and transcriptomic changes resulting from the integration of HCC PDOs with patient-derived gut microbiota and host immune cells, and to assess the correlation with patient prognosis; 3) to exploit HCC PDOs to test the efficacy of systemic therapies (ICI and TKIs) and to understand possible modifying cofactors.
Researchers with laboratory experience have been recruited who will focus on the construction of PDOs and the analysis of immune-inflammatory pathways. State-of-the-art technologies will be used, in particular next-generation sequencing, flow cytometry, high-throughput genomic and transcriptomic analysis, ultrafiltration, drug screening, multiplex immunoassays and enzyme immunoassays. The project aims to study the mechanisms involved in the modulation of therapeutic efficacy in patients with HCC. Therefore, the experimental model could be a valuable support to be integrated into real clinical practice to maximise therapeutic efficacy through a fully customised strategy.
- Conditions
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Organoids, Gut Microbiota, Tumor Microenvironment, System Disorders, Digestive, Surgery
- Being tested
- organoids models
- Medical subject headings
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular, Digestive System Diseases
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
organoids modelsProcedure or surgery
Enrolled patients will undergo liver biopsy with sampling of tumor tissue and adjacent nontumor liver parenchyma. Alternatively, patients who are candidates for surgical resection of HCC will be enrolled. The tumor tissue obtained will be used partly for histological confirmation of HCC and then included in kerosene, partly used for organoid construction, and the nontumor tissue will be used solely for organoids. Genomic and transcriptomic changes resulting from the integration of PDO of HCC with the gut microbiota and host immune cells derived from the patient will be evaluated. In addition, PDOs from HCC will be tested for the efficacy of systemic therapies (ICI and TKI) and understand possible modifying co-factors.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| HCC organoid models development | Experimental | The aim of the present project is to develop a HCC organoid model that closely resembles the in vivo immunological microenvironment, including the contribution of the gut-liver axis. These reconstituted HCC models will then allow us to test tumor sensitiv Receives: Procedure: organoids models |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Organoid model development
The primary endpoint of this study is to assess the correlation between the genomic and histological characteristics of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surgical biopsies and clinical outcomes, specifically disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).
Measured: 2-18 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Apr 2025
- Study start1 Oct 2024
- Primary completion15 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Hepatocellular CarcinomaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCSThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Francesca Romana Ponziani, PI, Principal investigator, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Largo A. Gemelli, 8
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06929845
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 6845
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Jul 2024
- Last updated
- 21 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Organoid Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Test Treatment Efficacy, Exploring Correlations With Tumor Microenvironment and Gut-liver-tumor Axis.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06929845
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 6845
- Conditions
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Organoids, Gut Microbiota, Tumor Microenvironment, System Disorders, Digestive, Surgery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCSUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
A promising tool to elucidate the molecular characteristics of HCC are patient-derived organoids (PDOs), three-dimensional cultures of cells that self-organise according to tissue-specific patterns and can be used to test the susceptibility of a specific tumour to anticancer agents. In this study, PDOs for HCC will be developed that closely resemble the tumour microenvironment in vivo and mimic the crosstalk of the gut-liver axis to establish a correlation with patient prognosis and test the efficacy of available systemic therapies.
Detailed description
The objectives of the project will be 1) to develop HCC PDOs from tumour and non-tumour patient liver tissue obtained from surgical specimens or liver biopsies; 2) to evaluate genomic and transcriptomic changes resulting from the integration of HCC PDOs with patient-derived gut microbiota and host immune cells, and to assess the correlation with patient prognosis; 3) to exploit HCC PDOs to test the efficacy of systemic therapies (ICI and TKIs) and to understand possible modifying cofactors.
Researchers with laboratory experience have been recruited who will focus on the construction of PDOs and the analysis of immune-inflammatory pathways. State-of-the-art technologies will be used, in particular next-generation sequencing, flow cytometry, high-throughput genomic and transcriptomic analysis, ultrafiltration, drug screening, multiplex immunoassays and enzyme immunoassays. The project aims to study the mechanisms involved in the modulation of therapeutic efficacy in patients with HCC. Therefore, the experimental model could be a valuable support to be integrated into real clinical practice to maximise therapeutic efficacy through a fully customised strategy.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| HCC organoid models development | Experimental | Procedure: organoids modelsThe aim of the present project is to develop a HCC organoid model that closely resembles the in vivo immunological microenvironment, including the contribution of the gut-liver axis. These reconstituted HCC models will then allow us to test tumor sensitiv |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Capacity to express informed consent;
- Age ≥18 years;
- Suspected radiological diagnosis of HCC or diagnosis of HCC with indications for surgical resection.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age < 18 years;
- Contraindications to liver biopsy (ascites, platelets<50,000, INR>1.7);
- Contraindications to HCC resection surgery;
- Active viral infection;
- Refusal to sign informed consent to participate in the study.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| organoids modelsEnrolled patients will undergo liver biopsy with sampling of tumor tissue and adjacent nontumor liver parenchyma. Alternatively, patients who are candidates for surgical resection of HCC will be enrolled. The tumor tissue obtained will be used partly for histological confirmation of HCC and then included in kerosene, partly used for organoid construction, and the nontumor tissue will be used solely for organoids. Genomic and transcriptomic changes resulting from the integration of PDO of HCC with the gut microbiota and host immune cells derived from the patient will be evaluated. In addition, PDOs from HCC will be tested for the efficacy of systemic therapies (ICI and TKI) and understand possible modifying co-factors. | Procedure or surgery | HCC organoid models development |
Primary outcome
Organoid model development
Time frame: 2-18 months
The primary endpoint of this study is to assess the correlation between the genomic and histological characteristics of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surgical biopsies and clinical outcomes, specifically disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Sep 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Francesca Romana Ponziani, PI principal investigator
Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Largo A. Gemelli, 8
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing organoids models in people with Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Organoids, run by Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS at 1 site in Italy.
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 3 inclusion and 5 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 21 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 Italy. 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.
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 Francesca Romana Ponziani, PI (3471227242, francescaromana.ponziani@policlinicogemelli.it), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Organoid model development (time frame: 2-18 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 21 Sep 2026.