Radiation Therapy With Protons or Photons in Treating Patients With Liver Cancer

October 9, 2026 updated by: NRG Oncology

A Phase III Randomized Trial of Protons Versus Photons for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

This phase III trial studies how well radiation therapy with protons works compared with photons in treating patients with liver cancer. Radiation therapy, such as photon therapy, uses high energy x-rays to send the radiation inside the body to the tumor while proton therapy uses a beam of proton particles. Proton therapy can stop shortly after penetrating through the tumor and may cause less damage to the surrounding healthy organs and result in better survival in patients with liver cancer.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine if overall survival (OS) is different for hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with protons compared to photons.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the difference in progression-free-survival (PFS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with protons compared to patients with HCC treated with photons.

II. To determine the difference in local progression (LP) in patients with HCC treated with protons compared to patients with HCC treated with photons.

III. To determine differences in toxicity in patients with HCC treated with protons versus photons.

IV. To determine differences in fatigue, as measured by Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) fatigue in patients with HCC treated with protons, versus photons; as well as quality-adjusted survival, if the primary endpoint is met.

V. To determine if there are correlations between the baseline values of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and outcomes (OS/PFS/fatigue).

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine differences in overall quality of life, measured by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary Cancer (FACT-Hep) in patients with HCC treated with protons.

II. Biospecimen collection for future correlative science projects.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms, photon or proton therapy (see Arms and Interventions).

Patients undergo computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood sample collection throughout the study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then yearly thereafter.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
116

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30308
        • Emory University Hospital Midtown
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322
        • Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30342
        • Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30308
        • Emory Proton Therapy Center
    • Illinois
      • Warrenville, Illinois, United States, 60555
        • Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Warrenville
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201
        • University of Maryland/Greenebaum Cancer Center
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201
        • Maryland Proton Treatment Center
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
        • Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
    • Michigan
      • Dearborn, Michigan, United States, 48124
        • Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital
      • Royal Oak, Michigan, United States, 48073
        • Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital
      • Troy, Michigan, United States, 48085
        • Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital
    • Missouri
      • St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
        • Washington University School of Medicine
    • New Jersey
      • Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States, 07920
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge
      • Middletown, New Jersey, United States, 07748
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth
      • Montvale, New Jersey, United States, 07645
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen
    • New York
      • Commack, New York, United States, 11725
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack
      • East White Plains, New York, United States, 10604
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester
      • New York, New York, United States, 10065
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
      • New York, New York, United States, 10035
        • New York Proton Center
      • Uniondale, New York, United States, 11553
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau
    • Ohio
      • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45219
        • University of Cincinnati Cancer Center-UC Medical Center
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106
        • Case Western Reserve University
      • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
        • Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
      • West Chester, Ohio, United States, 45069
        • University of Cincinnati Cancer Center-West Chester
    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
    • Washington
      • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98195
        • University of Washington Medical Center - Montlake
      • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98109
        • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pathologically (histologically or cytologically) or radiographically-proven (based on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases [AALSD] criteria) unresectable or locally recurrent hepatocellular cancer prior to registration

  • Appropriate stage for study entry based on the following diagnostic workup:

    • All patients must have computed tomography (CT) scan chest/abdomen/pelvis with multiphasic liver CT scan prior to registration; if CT contrast is contraindicated, CT chest without contrast and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of abdomen is permitted
    • Participants must have measurable disease at study entry, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as > 2 cm with conventional techniques or as > 1 cm with spiral CT scan
    • Patient must have 3 or fewer single or multinodular tumors; for patients with a single lesion, lesion must be 15 cm or less in greatest dimension; for patients with two lesions, no lesion may be greater than 10 cm in greatest dimension; for patients with three lesions, no lesion may be greater than 6 cm in greatest dimension; portal vein involvement or thrombosis combined with a single lesion that is >= 1 cm and =< 15 cm in greatest dimension is allowed

  • Age >= 18

  • Zubrod performance status 0-1 within 30 days prior to registration

  • Negative urine or serum pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential within 7 days prior to study entry

  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1,000 cells/mm^3

  • Platelets >= 50,000 cells/mm^3

  • Hemoglobin >= 9.0 g/dl; (Note: The use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve hemoglobin [Hgb] >= 9.0 g/dl is acceptable)

  • Total bilirubin < 4 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)

  • Transaminases (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) < 6 x institutional ULN

  • Albumin >= 2.5 g/dl

  • Creatinine < 2 mg/dl

  • Prior chemotherapy, targeted biological therapy (e.g. sorafenib), surgery, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), ablation for present disease is acceptable

  • Must have Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) A or B7

  • The patient or a legally authorized representative must provide study-specific informed consent prior to study registration

Exclusion Criteria:

  • PRIOR TO STEP ONE REGISTRATION:
  • Definitive clinical or radiologic documentation of extrahepatic tumor, defined as extrahepatic metastases or malignant nodes (that enhance with typical features of HCC) > 3.0 cm, in sum of maximal diameters (e.g. presence of one 3.4 cm metastatic lymph node or two 2 cm lung lesions); note that benign non-enhancing periportal lymphadenopathy is not unusual in the presence of hepatitis and is permitted, even if the sum of enlarged nodes is > 2.0 cm
  • Uncontrolled prior invasive malignancy, excluding the current diagnosis
  • Systemic chemotherapy for the study cancer < 2 weeks prior to registration
  • Pregnancy or women of childbearing potential and men who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception; this exclusion is necessary because the treatment involved in this study may be significantly teratogenic
  • HIV positive with CD4 count < 200 cells/microliter; note that patients who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive are eligible, provided they are under treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and have a CD4 (cluster of differentiation 4)count >= 200 cells/microliter prior to registration; note also that HIV testing is not required for eligibility for this protocol; this exclusion criterion is necessary because the treatments involved in this protocol may be significantly immunosuppressive
  • Prior radiotherapy to the region of the study cancer that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields (to include Y90)
  • Prior liver transplant
  • PRIOR TO STEP TWO RANDOMIZATION:
  • Unable to obtain confirmation of payment coverage (insurance or other) for either possible treatment

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Proton Therapy (Arm 1)

Proton therapy delivered in 5 fractions over 15 days or 15 fractions over 24 days, determined by the treating physician.
Radiation: Proton Therapy

Fractions

Other Names:
  • Cancer Radiotherapy
  • ENERGY_TYPE
  • Irradiate
  • Irradiated
  • Irradiation
  • Radiation
  • Radiation Therapy, NOS
  • Radiotherapeutics
  • Radiotherapy
  • RT
  • Therapy, Radiation
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Energy Type
Experimental: Photon Therapy (Arm 2)

Photon therapy delivered in 5 fractions over 15 days or 15 fractions over 24 days, determined by the treating physician.
Radiation: Photon Therapy

Fractions

Other Names:
  • Cancer Radiotherapy
  • ENERGY_TYPE
  • Irradiate
  • Irradiated
  • Irradiation
  • Radiation
  • Radiation Therapy, NOS
  • Radiotherapeutics
  • Radiotherapy
  • RT
  • Therapy, Radiation
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Energy Type

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percentage of Participants Alive (Overall Survival)
Time Frame: From randomization to death or last follow-up. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. One- and two-year estimates are reported.

Survival rates are estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, censoring participants alive at last known follow-up.
From randomization to death or last follow-up. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. One- and two-year estimates are reported.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percentage of Participants Alive Without Progression (Progression-free Survival)
Time Frame: From randomization to progression, death, or last follow-up, whichever occurs first. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. One- and two-year estimates are reported.

Progression is defined as local, regional, or distant progression. Progression-free survival rates are estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, censoring participants alive without progression at time of last follow-up.
From randomization to progression, death, or last follow-up, whichever occurs first. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. One- and two-year estimates are reported.
Percentage of Participants With Local Progression
Time Frame: From randomization to local progression, death, or last follow-up, whichever occurs first. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. One- and two-year estimates are reported.

Local progression rates are estimated using the cumulative incidence method in which death is treated as competing risk and participants alive without local failure are censored at last known follow-up.
From randomization to local progression, death, or last follow-up, whichever occurs first. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. One- and two-year estimates are reported.
Percentage of Participants With Grade 3+ Treatment-Related Adverse Events
Time Frame: From randomization to death or last follow-up. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months.

Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 5.0) grades adverse event severity as follows: 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe, 4 = life-threatening, 5 = death related to adverse event. Adverse events reported as possibly, probably, or definitely related to treatment are considered to be treatment-related adverse events.
From randomization to death or last follow-up. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months.
Change From Baseline to One Month in the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System - Fatigue Short Form version1.0 8a [PROMIS Fatigue Score]
Time Frame: Baseline and one month

The PROMIS Fatigue Short Form v1.0 8a contains 8 items that assess self-reported fatigue symptoms over the past 7 days. Item responses are summed to obtain a raw score ranging from 8 to 40, which is then converted to a standardized T-score (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher T-scores indicate greater fatigue. Change from baseline is calculated as the post-baseline T-score minus the baseline T-score, with positive change scores indicating increased fatigue and negative change scores indicating decreased fatigue.
Baseline and one month
Quality-adjusted LIfe Years
Time Frame: Baseline up to 12 months

Was to be calculated using the EuroQol 5-Dimension Three Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L).
Baseline up to 12 months
Percentage of Participants Alive (Overall Survival) by Plasma Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) Level
Time Frame: From randomization to death or last follow-up. One- and two-year estimates will be reported.

Survival rates are estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, censoring participants alive at last known follow-up. HGF will be dichotomized at 2311 pg/mL.
From randomization to death or last follow-up. One- and two-year estimates will be reported.
Percentage of Participants Alive Without Progression (Progression-free Survival) by HGF Level
Time Frame: From randomization to progression, death, or last follow-up, whichever occurs first. One- and two-year estimates will be reported.

Progression is defined as local, regional, or distant progression. Progression-free survival rates are estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, censoring participants alive without progression at time of last follow-up. HGF will be dichotomized at 2311 pg/mL.
From randomization to progression, death, or last follow-up, whichever occurs first. One- and two-year estimates will be reported.
Change From Baseline to One Month in PROMIS Fatigue Score by HGF Level
Time Frame: Baseline and one month

The PROMIS Fatigue Short Form v1.0 8a contains 8 items that assess self-reported fatigue symptoms over the past 7 days. Item responses are summed to obtain a raw score ranging from 8 to 40, which is then converted to a standardized T-score (mean = 50, standard deviation = 10). Higher T-scores indicate greater fatigue. Change from baseline is calculated as the post-baseline T-score minus the baseline T-score, with positive change scores indicating increased fatigue and negative change scores indicating decreased fatigue. HGF will be dichotomized at 2311 pg/mL.
Baseline and one month

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall Quality of Life by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) Version 4
Time Frame: Baseline up to 12 months

Differences between treatment arms in the overall score, the four domains (physical, social, emotional, and functional well-being), and the additional concerns subscale will also be analyzed.
Baseline up to 12 months
Title: Percentage of Participants Alive (Overall Survival) by Sex
Time Frame: From randomization to death or last follow-up. Median follow-up for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. Two-year estimates are reported.

NIH-required analysis. Survival rates are estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, censoring participants alive at time of analysis.
From randomization to death or last follow-up. Median follow-up for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. Two-year estimates are reported.
Percentage of Participants Alive (Overall Survival) by Race
Time Frame: From randomization to death or last follow-up. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. Two-year estimates are reported.

NIH-required analysis. Survival rates are estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, censoring participants alive at time of analysis.
From randomization to death or last follow-up. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. Two-year estimates are reported.
Percentage of Participants Alive (Overall Survival) by Ethnicity
Time Frame: From randomization to death or last follow-up. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. Two-year estimates are reported.

NIH-required analysis. Survival rates are estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, censoring participants alive at time of analysis.
From randomization to death or last follow-up. Median follow-up time for all patients at time of analysis was 20.4 months. Two-year estimates are reported.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
NRG Oncology

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Theodore S Hong, NRG Oncology

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 26, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 20, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 20, 2031

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 12, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 12, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 14, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • NRG-GI003
  • U10CA180868 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • NRG-GI003 (Other Identifier: CTEP)
  • NCI-2016-02009 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))
  • NRG-GI003 (Other Identifier: NRG Oncology)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

NCI is committed to sharing data in accordance with NIH policy. For more details on how clinical trial data is shared, access the link to the NIH data sharing policy page.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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