Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07209813

GKL-006 Injection Plus TACE Versus TACE Alone in Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

This is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled Phase 2 study in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC).

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of GKL-006 Injection in combination with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) versus TACE alone.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

302 Hospital, Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Loading trial locations.

About this study

This Phase 2 study is designed to evaluate a treatment strategy that combines noval immune cell therapy GKL-006 Injection with standard care as TACE in patients with uHCC. Eligible participants will be enrolled at multiple study centers and randomly assigned to receive either GKL-006 Injection in combination with TACE or TACE alone.

TACE will be performed in accordance with the study protocol and institutional practice. Participants in the combination group will receive GKL-006 Injection in addition to TACE as specified in the protocol.

During the study, participants will undergo scheduled clinical evaluations, laboratory tests, imaging assessments, and safety monitoring. Tumor status will be assessed by investigators and Independent Review Committee (IRC). Safety information, including adverse events, laboratory abnormalities, and clinically significant findings, will be collected throughout treatment and follow-up.

The study is intended to characterize the clinical activity and tolerability of the combination regimen compared with TACE alone and to provide supportive evidence for further development of GKL-006 Injection in uHCC.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Main Inclusion Criteria:

  • Voluntarily participates in the study and provides written informed consent.
  • Male or female, age ≥ 18 and ≤ 80 years old
  • Has pathologically, cytologically, or radiologically confirmed unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Has CNLC stage II to IIIa disease.
  • Has at least one measurable lesion according to mRECIST.
  • Child-Pugh class A or B.
  • ECOG performance status of 0 - 2.
  • Adequate hematologic and organ function.

Main Exclusion Criteria:

  • Has a known allergy to the investigational product or related components, including human serum albumin and IL-2.
  • Has another incurable malignancy within 5 years before screening or concurrently.
  • Has a previous diagnosis of mixed or rare histologic subtypes, including fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma, or combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma.
  • Has received therapy aim to target lesion(s) within 12 weeks before screening.
  • Has hepatic encephalopathy within 4 weeks before screening.
  • Has clinically symptomatic ascites or pleural effusion requiring drainage, or has undergone thoracic or abdominal fluid drainage.
  • Has other active disease.

Treatment and study plan

GKL-006 Injection

Drug

An iNKT cell therapy

Other names: GKL-006, iNKT cells

TACE

Procedure

A standard locoregional therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Primary outcomes

  1. Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Assessed by Independent Review Committee Based on mRECIST

    Time frame: Up to approximately 18 months

    Progression-free survival is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented disease progression assessed by the independent review committee (IRC) according to mRECIST, or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Assessed by Investigator Based on mRECIST

    Time frame: Up to approximately 18 months

    Progression-free survival is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented disease progression assessed by the investigator according to mRECIST, or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.

  2. Objective Response Rate (ORR)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 18 months

    The rate of participants with a best overall response of complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) according to mRECIST.

  3. Duration of Response (DOR)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 18 months

    Duration of response is defined as the time from the first documented objective response of CR or PR according to mRECIST to disease progression or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.

  4. Disease Control Rate (DCR)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 18 months

    The rate of participants with a best overall response of CR, PR, or stable disease (SD) according to mRECIST.

  5. Time to Progression (TTP)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 18 months

    The time from randomization to the first documented disease progression according to mRECIST.

  6. Change From Baseline in EORTC QLQ-C30 Score

    Time frame: Up to approximately 18 months

    It will be assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.

  7. Overall Survival (OS)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 18 months

    The time from randomization to death from any cause.

  8. Incidence and Severity of Adverse Events

    Time frame: Up to approximately 18 months

    Safety will be assessed by the incidence and severity of adverse events.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Zhongda Hospital

CONTACT

[email protected]

+86-25-83272121

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Beijing Gene Key Life Technology Co., Ltd

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Controlled Phase 2 Study of GKL-006 Injection in Combination With Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Versus TACE Alone in Patients With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Oct 7, 2025
Registry last updated
Aug 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.