A Trial of Thymalfasin With Trans Arterial Chemo-Embolization (TACE) in the Treatment of Adult Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Phase II Trial
Inclusion Criteria:
- Signed written informed consent.
- Diagnosis of HCC by:
1. Presence of HCC on biopsy (core biopsy), or, if biopsy is strongly
contra-indicated due to safety or patient-related concerns, then the diagnosis
of HCC can be determined by:
2. A new hepatic defect on imaging with an AFP > 1000 ng/ml, or
3. A new hepatic defect on ultrasound or CT with an AFP < 1000 ng/ml when one of
the following is present:
1. At least two additional imaging techniques show signs characteristic of
HCC, or
2. The new hepatic defect has doubled in diameter over time, or
3. The AFP has progressively risen to > 200 ng/ml and triples the mean
baseline.
- HCC must be unresectable and non-transplantable.
- Hematocrit > 30%, platelet count >= 50,000 per microliter, WBC > 2.0 x 109/L, and
polymorphonuclear white cell count >= 1.0 x 109/L.
- Adequate renal function as demonstrated by serum creatinine level < 1.5 mg/dl.
- If the patient is a woman, she is using a definitive method of birth control
in consultation with her physician, or is surgically sterile or
post-menopausal.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Concomitant chronic use of any drug known to be hepatotoxic, or of any
immunosuppressive drug (Use of oral contraceptives will not exclude an otherwise
eligible patient).
- Presence of main portal vein thrombosis or hepatic artery malformation.
- HCC amenable to treatment by surgical resection or hepatic transplantation.
- HIV infection diagnosed by HIV seropositivity and confirmed by Western blot.
- Concomitant or prior history of malignancy other than HCC within the last 10 years,
except for curatively treated skin cancer or surgically cured in situ carcinoma of
the cervix.
- Active infectious process that is not of a self-limiting nature. TB and AIDS are
examples of infectious processes that are not of a self-limiting nature.
- Pregnancy as documented by a urine pregnancy test. Women with reproductive potential
must agree to practice an adequate method of birth control for the duration of the
study.
- Alcohol or intravenous drug abuse within the previous 1 year.
- Previous treatment with thymalfasin.
- Patients with known hypersensitivity to iodine.
- Simultaneous participation in another investigational drug study, or participation in
any clinical trial involving investigational drugs within 30 days of study entry.