Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov
Evaluation of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy as a Bridge Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Enlisted for Liver Transplantation
Evaluation of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy as a Bridge Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Enlisted for Liver Transplantation (NCT06218420) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Hepatocellular Carcinoma, sponsored by Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.
About This Trial
The aim of this trial is to carry out the first prospective multicentric study which evaluates the efficacy and the safety of SBRT in HCC patients enlisted for LT and not suitable for other bridging interventional treatments (RF or TACE). The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing worldwide and is currently the first indication for Liver transplantation (LT). HCC patients access to LT is not only determined by the underlying liver function but also by the alpha-fetoprotein (aFP) score which allows to better identify patients with high risk of recurrence. LT is the best curative treatment as it can cure both the tumor and the underlying liver disease. However, the access to LT is limited due to organ shortage and preserved liver function for the majority of the patients with HCC. Bridging therapies, such as ablation by radiofrequency (RF) or microwaves, or trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE), are carried out routinely to prevent the risk of tumor progression and drop-out during the waiting time (the drop-out rate being 20%). Nevertheless, only 50 to 70% of patients in France will have access to these treatments due to specific contraindications. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has emerged as a non-invasive alternative and potentially efficient treatment of single or bilocular HCC. SBRT is a high-precision technique allowing to deliver a precise high dose irradiation on moving intrahepatic lesions. RTS is feasible only when the hepatic reserve is sufficient to avoid radic hepatitis. Advantages of SBRT, as compared to TACE or RF, are 1) to preserve the hepatic artery, which can be altered by TACE 2) to allow access to complex tumors locations or superficial lesions not feasible by RF 3) to avoid any tumor spread related to punctures 4) to avoid general anesthesia. However, SBRT has not been validated as bridging therapy before LT in a prospective study. Thus, this study is the first prospective multicentric study to evaluate this treatment modality in HCC patients enlisted for LT not suitable to RF or TACE.
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 139 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)
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
Treatments Being Tested
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) is a non-invasive alternative and potentially efficient treatment of single or bilocular HCC. However, SBRT has not been validated as bridging therapy before LT in a prospective study yet.
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.
How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial
Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06218420), the sponsor (Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris), 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 NCT06218420 clinical trial studying?
The aim of this trial is to carry out the first prospective multicentric study which evaluates the efficacy and the safety of SBRT in HCC patients enlisted for LT and not suitable for other bridging interventional treatments (RF or TACE). The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing worldwide and is currently the first indication for Liver transplantation (LT). HCC patients access to LT is not only determined by the underlying liver function but also by the alpha-fetoprotein (aFP) score which allows to better identify patients with high risk of recurrence. LT is the best cura… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.
Who can participate in NCT06218420?
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 NCT06218420?
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 NCT06218420. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06218420. 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 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.