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Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT05095519

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Imaging Using PSMA PET/CT

The purpose of the research is to evaluate the use of a PSMA PET/CT (Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography) scan in the diagnosis of HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) and comparing it to standard scanning techniques with CT (Computed Tomography) or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia

Loading trial locations.

About this study

A total of 30 patients will be recruited in this prospective pilot study who have HCC on imaging criteria (LI-RADS 5) for surgical resection, or patients with indeterminate liver lesions (LI-RADS 3 or 4) planned for liver biopsy. 18F-DCFPYL PSMA PET/CT will be performed prior to the planned surgery or liver biopsy

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female aged 18 years or older at screening
  • Has provided written informed consent for participation in the study
  • Must have risk factors for HCC e.g. cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B infection with or without cirrhosis
  • Patients with liver lesions ≥1 cm suspicious for HCC but with indeterminate features on CT and MRI meeting LI-RADS 3 or 4 criteria planned for biopsy, OR patients with liver lesions diagnostic of HCC based on CT or MRI meeting LI-RADS 5 criteria planned for surgical resection
  • Patients must be willing and able to comply with the protocol and procedures for the duration of the study
  • Patients must be available for follow-up

Exclusion criteria

  • Abdominal surgery or radiotherapy to the abdomen within <4 weeks of registration. Patients must have recovered from any effects of any major surgery
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness that is likely to impede participation and or compliance
  • Any history of prostate cancer or elevated PSA level for male patients
  • Other malignancies unless curatively treated with no evidence of disease within previous 3-years other than adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or melanoma in situ
  • Participation in another clinical study with an investigational product or another systemic cancer therapy administered in the last 4 weeks
  • Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with requirements of the study
  • Women who are pregnant or lactating
  • Cirrhosis due to congenital hepatic fibrosis, vascular disorders (e.g. Budd-Chiari syndrome) or cardiac cirrhosis

Treatment and study plan

18F-DCFPyl

Drug

18F-DCFPyL will be administered with a single dose of 3.5 MBq per kg (2-4 MBq per kg), maximum 400 MBq), administered as a slow (over 30 seconds) intravenous injection

Primary outcomes

  1. True Positive Rate per patient

    Time frame: 6 months

    The probability that HCC is present when the PSMA-PET/CT test result is positive on a per patient basis.

  2. True Negative Rate per patient

    Time frame: 6 months

    The probability that HCC is absent when the PSMA-PET/CT test result is negative on a per patient basis.

  3. True Positive Rate per lesion

    Time frame: 6 months

    The probability that HCC is present when the PSMA-PET/CT test result is positive on a per lesion basis.

  4. True Negative Rate per lesion.

    Time frame: 6 months

    The probability that HCC is absent when the PSMA-PET/CT test result is negative on a per lesion basis.

Secondary outcomes

  1. PSMA uptake

    Time frame: 6 months

    Qualitative uptake of PSMA measured on a per lesion basis.

  2. Maximum standard uptake value

    Time frame: 6 months

    Maximum standard uptake value of lesions on PSMA PET/CT.

  3. CT LIRADS (Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System) Score

    Time frame: 6 months

    LI RADS Score for CT lesions.

  4. PSMA expression.

    Time frame: 6 months

    Expression of PSMA per lesion.

  5. GLUT-1 expression

    Time frame: 6 months

    Expression of GLUT 1 per lesion.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Imaging Using PSMA PET/CT - a Prospective Pilot Trial

Acronym: HepaSMART

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Oct 27, 2021
Registry last updated
Jul 16, 2025

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.

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