Combination Chemotherapy for Liver Cancer
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This partially randomized phase II/III trial studies how well, in combination with surgery, cisplatin and combination chemotherapy works in treating children and young adults with hepatoblastoma or hepatocellular carcinoma. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, doxorubicin, fluorouracil, vincristine sulfate, carboplatin, etoposide, irinotecan, sorafenib, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells than one type of chemotherapy alone.
Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?
The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot be on other anticancer agents or certain drugs like St. John's wort if you are in Group D. It's best to discuss your current medications with the trial team.
Is the combination chemotherapy for liver cancer safe for humans?
Carboplatin, a drug used in combination chemotherapy, is generally considered safer than its counterpart cisplatin, as it causes less kidney damage and has fewer side effects like nausea and hearing loss. However, it can still cause blood-related side effects, such as a decrease in platelets, which are important for blood clotting.12345
What makes this liver cancer treatment unique?
This treatment is unique because it combines multiple chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin, doxorubicin, and others, which have shown effectiveness in other cancers, to potentially enhance their effects against liver cancer. The combination aims to target the cancer cells more effectively by using different mechanisms of action from each drug.678910
What data supports the effectiveness of the drugs used in the combination chemotherapy for liver cancer?
Research shows that cisplatin-based chemotherapy, often combined with other drugs like irinotecan and gemcitabine, has been effective in improving survival and quality of life in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. These findings suggest potential benefits of similar drug combinations for other cancers, including liver cancer.67111213
Who Is on the Research Team?
Gregory M Tiao
Principal Investigator
Children's Oncology Group
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for children and young adults with hepatoblastoma or liver cancer who have undergone surgery. They must be newly diagnosed, have proper organ function, not received prior cancer treatments except certain surgeries, and agree to contraception if of childbearing potential. Those with uncontrolled infections or on other cancer drugs can't join.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive cisplatin and combination chemotherapy, with treatment cycles varying by risk group and tumor resectability
Surgery
Surgical resection of tumors, performed after initial chemotherapy cycles
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety, effectiveness, and long-term outcomes after treatment
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Cisplatin
- Doxorubicin, Fluorouracil, Vincristine Sulfate, Etoposide, Irinotecan, Sorafenib, Gemcitabine, Oxaliplatin, Carboplatin
- Resection
Cisplatin is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada, Japan for the following indications:
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Children's Oncology Group
Lead Sponsor
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Collaborator