Bevacizumab in Combination With Sintilimab Versus Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for the Treatment of Intermediate Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Beyond Up-To-Seven Criteria)

Bevacizumab in Combination With Sintilimab Versus Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for the Treatment of Intermediate Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Beyond Up-To-Seven Criteria) (NCT06090656) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Hepatocellular Carcinoma, sponsored by Sun Yat-sen University. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

About This Trial

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended as the standard of care for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (i.e., BCLC stage B). However, these patients is heterogeneous in terms of liver functional, tumor size and tumor number, and not all patients with mid-stage HCC will benefit from TACE. The ORIENT-32 trial confirmed the efficacy of sintilimab in combination with bevacizumab for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. No study has yet explored whether this regimen is appropriate for patients with BCLC stage B. The purpose of this study is to explore whether bevacizumab in combination with sintilimab is superior to conventional TACE therapy in patients with HCC with beyond-Up-to-seven criteria.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Hepatocellular Carcinoma and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 88 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Hepatocellular Carcinoma subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) hepatocellular carcinoma, or meet the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) clinical diagnostic criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma. Age ≥ 18 years old. ECOG score 0. No systemic systemic antitumor therapy against hepatocellular carcinoma and transhepatic arterial intervention prior to treatment. Tumour extent: Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B unsuitable for radical surgery and/or local treatment, together with a tumour load exceeding the Up-To-Seven criteria, i.e. the sum of the size (in centimetres) of the largest tumour in the liver and the number of tumours greater than 7; tumor was bilobed with multiple lesions; at least one measurable lesion with CT/MRI showing arterial phase enhancement; no portal vein thrombus; and no extrahepatic metastasis. No risk of variceal bleeding: CT/MRI/esophagogastroduodenoscopy within 6 months did not suggest esophagogastric fundic varices and active ulcers. Child-Push A Normal hematologic function (platelets \>75×10E9/L; leukocytes \>3.0×10E9/L; neutrophils \>1.5×10E9/L) Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), transaminases ≤ 3 times the ULN No ascites, normal coagulation function, albumin ≥ 30g/L Serum creatinine less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) Life expectancy \> 3 months Who Should NOT Join This Trial: Previously confirmed fibrous lamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma, and bile duct carcinoma. history of hepatic encephalopathy or a history of liver transplantation. pleural fluid, ascites, and pericardial effusion with clinical symptoms requiring drainage. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: Histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma, or meet the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) clinical diagnostic criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma. Age ≥ 18 years old. ECOG score 0. No systemic systemic antitumor therapy against hepatocellular carcinoma and transhepatic arterial intervention prior to treatment. Tumour extent: Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B unsuitable for radical surgery and/or local treatment, together with a tumour load exceeding the Up-To-Seven criteria, i.e. the sum of the size (in centimetres) of the largest tumour in the liver and the number of tumours greater than 7; tumor was bilobed with multiple lesions; at least one measurable lesion with CT/MRI showing arterial phase enhancement; no portal vein thrombus; and no extrahepatic metastasis. No risk of variceal bleeding: CT/MRI/esophagogastroduodenoscopy within 6 months did not suggest esophagogastric fundic varices and active ulcers. Child-Push A Normal hematologic function (platelets \>75×10E9/L; leukocytes \>3.0×10E9/L; neutrophils \>1.5×10E9/L) Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), transaminases ≤ 3 times the ULN No ascites, normal coagulation function, albumin ≥ 30g/L Serum creatinine less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) Life expectancy \> 3 months Exclusion Criteria: Previously confirmed fibrous lamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma, and bile duct carcinoma. history of hepatic encephalopathy or a history of liver transplantation. pleural fluid, ascites, and pericardial effusion with clinical symptoms requiring drainage. Acute or chronic active hepatitis B or C infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA \> 2000 IU/ml or 10E4 copies/ml; hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA \> 10E3 copies/ml; positive for both hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies. Those who were below the above criteria after antiviral therapy could be enrolled. had any of the following within the 12 months prior to study entry: myocardial infarction, severe/unstable angina, coronary artery bypass graft, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident (including transient ischemic attack), pulmonary embolism; ongoing: arrhythmia ≥ grade 2 according to NCI-CTCAE criteria, prolonged QTc interval (\>450 ms in men , women \>470 ms); Uncontrollable hypertension, systolic blood pressure \>140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \>90 mmHg after optimal medical treatment, history of hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy. Renal failure requiring hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis; Severe dysfunction of other vital organs; History of malignancy other than hepatocellular carcinoma within 3 years prior to screening, except for malignancies with negligible risk of metastasis or death (e.g., 5-year OS rate \>90%), such as adequately treated cervical carcinoma in situ, non-melanoma skin cancer, limited prostate cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, or stage I uterine cancer; evidence of brain or soft meningeal lesions; hemophilia or bleeding tendencies, who are taking therapeutic doses of anticoagulant therapy such as coumarin derivative drugs; pregnant or lactating females, all female patients of childbearing potential must have a pregnancy test (serum or urine) within 7 days prior to enrollment and have a negative result; Prior organ transplant history; Known HIV infection; Active Tuberculosis chemotherapy drug allergy; comorbid systemic or other serious co-morbidities that, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient unsuitable for participation in this study or substantially interfere with the appropriate assessment of the safety and toxicity of the prescribed protocol. Active or history of autoimmune disease, including but not limited to myasthenia gravis, myositis, autoimmune hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Wegener's granulomatosis, dry syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, multiple sclerosis, vasculitis, or glomerulonephritis. Patients with other serious acute, chronic physical or psychiatric illnesses or abnormal laboratory tests that may increase the risk associated with study participation or that may interfere with the interpretation of study results or that the investigator deems unsuitable for enrollment. Patients with any history of significant noncompliance with medical regimens or inability to obtain reliable informed consent.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Bevacizumab combined with Sintilimab

Bevacizumab combined with sintilimab, sindilizumab 200 mg IV d1, Q3W, combined with bevacizumab 15 mg/kg IV d1, Q3W treatment, treatment continued until disease progression, development of intolerable toxic reactions

PROCEDURE

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, patients were treated with cTACE, and the efficacy was assessed by repeat CT/MRI 1 month after the initial treatment, and if the tumor still had arterial phase enhancement, TACE treatment could be supplemented until treatment failure and withdrawal of consent.

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06090656), the sponsor (Sun Yat-sen University), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT06090656 clinical trial studying?

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended as the standard of care for patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (i.e., BCLC stage B). However, these patients is heterogeneous in terms of liver functional, tumor size and tumor number, and not all patients with mid-stage HCC will benefit from TACE. The ORIENT-32 trial confirmed the efficacy of sintilimab in combination with bevacizumab for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. No study has yet explored whether this regimen is appropriate for patients with BCLC stage B. The purpose of this study is to e… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06090656?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT06090656?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06090656. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06090656. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.