Neoadjuvant HAIC and PD-1 Plus Adjuvant PD-1 for High-risk Recurrent HCC

Neoadjuvant Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy Plus Tislelizumab Combined With Adjuvant Tislelizumab in Preventing Postoperative Recurrence for High-risk Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Prospective, Single-arm, Phase II Clinical Study

Neoadjuvant HAIC and PD-1 Plus Adjuvant PD-1 for High-risk Recurrent HCC (NCT06467799) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Beyond Milan Criteria, 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

Surgical resection is the primary curative treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with a 5-year overall survival rate of 60-80% post-surgery. Therefore, guidelines recommend surgical resection as the first-line choice for early to mid-stage HCC (CNLC stages IA-IIA or BCLC stages A/B) patients with well liver reserve function. However, the high postoperative recurrence rate is the main factor limiting long-term survival in HCC patients, with literature reporting recurrence rates exceeding 70%. Among these, half of the patients experience recurrence within two years post-surgery, imposing a heavy burden on patients' physical and mental health as well as on societal medical resources. Adopting effective treatment to improve surgical curability and reduce postoperative recurrence rates is one of the current research hotspots. Recent studies from the investigators' center indicate that hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and immunotherapy can provide definite efficacy for patients with advanced HCC, extending their survival time. Mechanistically, chemotherapy and immunotherapy have synergistic effects: tumor cell necrosis induced by chemotherapy can promote immune activation, while cytokines and neutralizing antibodies secreted by immune cells can enhance the toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a prospective, single-arm, phase II clinical study, targeting HCC patients with high-risk recurrence factors, to evaluate whether neoadjuvant HAIC combined with a PD-1 monoclonal antibody (Tislelizumab) followed by adjuvant Tislelizumab post-surgery can reduce postoperative recurrence rates in HCC patients. The primary endpoint is the 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate post-surgery, while secondary endpoints include the objective response rate (ORR) of neoadjuvant therapy, the incidence of perioperative complications, the incidence of treatment-related adverse events, overall survival (OS) time, pathological complete response (pCR) rate of neoadjuvant therapy, and major pathological response (MPR) of neoadjuvant therapy. The investigators aim to comprehensively assess the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant HAIC plus PD-1 and adjuvant PD-1 in the perioperative treatment of HCC.

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.

With a target enrollment of 39 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Newly diagnosed and untreated hepatocellular carcinoma (clinical diagnostic criteria based on the " Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (2024 Edition) " formulated by the National Health Commission of China and the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) strategy for prognosis prediction and treatment recommendation of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)); 2. Tumor staging: beyond Milan criteria (single tumor \>5 cm, or 2-3 tumors with the largest diameter \>3 cm), resectable CNLC stage Ib/IIa hepatocellular carcinoma; 3. No tumor thrombus, distant metastasis, or lymph node metastasis; 4. Normal liver volume ≥ 700 cc, estimated residual liver volume \>40% after resection; 5. Patient KPS ≥ 90; 6. Liver function Child-Pugh class A; 7. Estimated survival of more than 6 months; 8. Function of important organs meets the following requirements: white blood cells ≥ 4.0×10\^9/l, neutrophils ≥ 1.5×10\^9/l, platelet count at least 80.0×10\^9/l, blood count (hemoglobin) at least 90 g/l; serum albumin ≥ 2.8 g/dl; total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN, ALT/AST/ALP ≤ 2.5 × ULN; serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN or creatinine clearance rate \> 60 mL/min; no severe organic diseases; 9. The subject must be able to understand and voluntarily sign a written willing to sign a consent form form, and must sign the willing to sign a consent form form prior to any specific procedure of the study, agreeing to comply with the medication and postoperative follow-up requirements as designed in this study. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: 1. Combined with severe impairment of functions of other important organs such as heart, lungs, and kidneys; active infections other than viral hepatitis or other serious comorbid conditions, making the patient unable to tolerate treatment; 2. Contraindications to surgical resection and immunotherapy; 3. History of other malignant tumors; ...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: 1. Newly diagnosed and untreated hepatocellular carcinoma (clinical diagnostic criteria based on the " Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (2024 Edition) " formulated by the National Health Commission of China and the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) strategy for prognosis prediction and treatment recommendation of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)); 2. Tumor staging: beyond Milan criteria (single tumor \>5 cm, or 2-3 tumors with the largest diameter \>3 cm), resectable CNLC stage Ib/IIa hepatocellular carcinoma; 3. No tumor thrombus, distant metastasis, or lymph node metastasis; 4. Normal liver volume ≥ 700 cc, estimated residual liver volume \>40% after resection; 5. Patient KPS ≥ 90; 6. Liver function Child-Pugh class A; 7. Estimated survival of more than 6 months; 8. Function of important organs meets the following requirements: white blood cells ≥ 4.0×10\^9/l, neutrophils ≥ 1.5×10\^9/l, platelets ≥ 80.0×10\^9/l, hemoglobin ≥ 90 g/l; serum albumin ≥ 2.8 g/dl; total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN, ALT/AST/ALP ≤ 2.5 × ULN; serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN or creatinine clearance rate \> 60 mL/min; no severe organic diseases; 9. The subject must be able to understand and voluntarily sign a written informed consent form, and must sign the informed consent form prior to any specific procedure of the study, agreeing to comply with the medication and postoperative follow-up requirements as designed in this study. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Combined with severe impairment of functions of other important organs such as heart, lungs, and kidneys; active infections other than viral hepatitis or other serious comorbid conditions, making the patient unable to tolerate treatment; 2. Contraindications to surgical resection and immunotherapy; 3. History of other malignant tumors; 4. Combined with immunological diseases or other conditions requiring long-term steroid treatment; 5. Known or suspected allergy to the study drug or any drugs administered in connection with this trial; 6. History of organ transplantation; 7. Pregnant or breastfeeding women; 8. Other factors that may affect patient enrollment and assessment outcomes; 9. Refusal to follow-up according to the requirements set by the study protocol, and refusal to sign the informed consent form.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Neoadjuvant HAIC and PD-1 Plus Adjuvant PD-1

Patients will first receive two cycles of FOLFOX-HAIC combined with tislelizumab as neoadjuvant therapy, with a 3-week interval between cycles. Two weeks after completing the neoadjuvant therapy, imaging assessments will be conducted to evaluate treatment efficacy and surgical feasibility. Surgical resection should be performed within two weeks following the imaging assessment. Four weeks post-resection, patients will undergo a follow-up evaluation to assess postoperative recovery and determine the presence of any residual tumor. If no residual or recurrent tumor is detected, adjuvant therapy with tislelizumab will commence (every three weeks, for a total of four cycles).

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 (NCT06467799), 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 NCT06467799 clinical trial studying?

Who can participate in NCT06467799?

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 NCT06467799?

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 NCT06467799. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06467799. 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.