Hepatocellular Carcinoma

This phase II non-randomized trial aims to prospectively investigate the predictive value of hyperpolarized 13C-MRI, along with comprehensive metabolomics and radiomics analyses, for immune response assessment including tumor control outcomes and toxicity in patients with HCC undergoing radiotherapy, atezolizumab, and bevacizumab.

Hyperpolarized [1-13C]pyruvate

Hyperpolarized[1- 13C]pyruvic acid

intravascular injection

0.43 ml/kg (9.589 mg/kg)

Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) conversion flux (pyruvate-to-lactate conversion rate [Kpl] and area under the curve [AUC]) before radiotherapy combined with atezolizumab and bevacizumab
Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) conversion flux (pyruvate-to-lactate conversion rate [Kpl] and area under the curve [AUC]) 2-5 weeks after radiotherapy combined with atezolizumab and bevacizumab

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participants must have diagnosis of HCC that is deemed unsuitable for surgical resection or transplant and will undergo radiotherapy, atezolizumab, and bevacizumab. Participants may have multiple lesions with a total maximal tumor dimension of < 20 cm, and no one lesion > 15 cm. Diagnosis should be confirmed by at least 1 criteria listed below:
-Histologically or cytologically proven diagnosis of HCC.
-Typical arterial enhancement and delayed washout on multiphasic CT or MRI.
2. Age ≥18 years at the time of signing informed consent document.
3. ECOG performance status 0-1.
4. Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages Intermediate (B) or Advanced (C).
5. Child-Pugh score 5-6 liver function within 28 days of study registration.
6. Documented virology status of hepatitis B virus (HBV), as confirmed by screening HBV serology test.
7. Documented virology status of hepatitis C virus (HCV), as confirmed by screening HCV serology test.
8. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
9. Adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal function within 4 weeks before study registration
-Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
-Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,000/mm3
-Platelet count ≥ 50,000/μL
-Total bilirubin < 2.5 mg/dL
-Serum albumin >2.8 g/dL
10. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3 × upper limit of normal (ULN)
Prothrombin time ≤ 6 seconds prolonged
Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
The medical team, experienced in liver cancer treatment, has evaluated and confirmed that the benefits outweigh the risks for participants receiving proton or photon radiation therapy combined with atezolizumab and bevacizumab.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior invasive malignancy unless disease free for a minimum of 2 years
2. Prior radiotherapy to the region of the liver that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields
3. Prior selective internal radiotherapy/hepatic arterial yttrium therapy, at any time
4. Untreated active hepatitis B or hepatitis C
5. Moderate to severe or intractable ascites
6. Presence of distant metastases
7. Untreated or incomplete treated esophageal or gastric varices
8. Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:
-Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months prior to registration
-Myocardial infarction within the last 6 months prior to study entry
-Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics within 28 days prior to study entry
-A bleeding episode within 6 months prior to study entry due to any cause.
-Thrombolytic therapy within 28 days prior to study entry.
-Known bleeding or clotting disorder.
-Uncontrolled psychotic disorder
9. Pregnancy or women of childbearing potential and men who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception
10. Prior solid organ transplantation.
11. Prior or active autoimmune disease (AID) including autoimmune hepatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Wegener granulomatosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and multiple sclerosis.
12. Prior or active thrombotic or bleeding disorders, hemoptysis, cerebral vascular accident, significant cardiac disease (ischemic or congestive heart failure), or gastrointestinal perforation.
13. Inability to treat all sites of disease by proton radiotherapy (such as extrahepatic metastases or massive liver tumors whereby the liver constraints cannot be met for covering all sites of liver tumors using radiotherapy.)
14. Known HIV infection.
15. Conditions not suitable for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) include the presence of strongly magnetic arterial clips in the brain, cardiac pacemakers, cochlear implants, and claustrophobia.
16. Concurrent medical conditions that may impact patients during MRI examination include active infections, symptomatic congestive heart failure, uncontrollable angina, arrhythmias, mental disorders, difficulty breathing, or diarrhea.
17. An endoscopy report within the past six months indicates a high risk for upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and the patient has not received complete treatment for its prevention.
18. Individuals who are allergic to hyperpolarized 13C pyruvate, atezolizumab, bevacizumab, or any ingredients contained in these medications.