Adding Fecal Microbiota Transplant to Liver Cancer Treatment After Early Progression
Tests a stool bacteria transplant with atezolizumab and bevacizumab in adults with liver cancer.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna IRCCS Istituto Di Ricerca E Di Cura A Carattere Scientifico
- Where
- Bologna, ItalySee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Fecal Microbiota Transplantation to RESCUE patients with unresectable Hcc progressors to first line therapy with AtezolizUmaB and Bevacizumab (RESCUE-HUB)
- Status
- Recruiting
- Phase
- Phase 2
- People taking part
- 15 people, planned
- Started
- 14 May 2026
- Expected to end
- 31 Aug 2027
- Type of study
- Interventional
- Record updated
- 25 September 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with liver cancer that cannot be removed by surgery and that got worse within 4 months of starting atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. It tests adding a fecal microbiota transplant to that treatment.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- Men and women can join.
- Disease stage
- Liver cancer (HCC) that cannot be removed by surgery and got worse within 4 months of starting first-line atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. At least one measurable lesion not yet treated (RECIST 1.1). ECOG-PS 0-1, Child-Pugh A.
- Earlier treatment
- Must have had first-line atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and tolerated it, with no side effects that forced either drug to stop for good.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Brain metastases or leptomeningeal disease
- Active autoimmune disease or immune deficiency, with some exceptions
- Antibiotics by mouth or into a vein within 2 weeks before starting study treatment
- Earlier stem cell or solid organ transplant
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 2 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Signed Informed consent Form. Age ≥ 18 years. Tolerance to first line treatment for HCC with Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab, i.e. absence of adverse events requiring definitive interruption of any of the two drugs. Ability to comply with the study protocol, in the investigator’s judgment. Unresectable HCC displaying early disease progression to first-line therapy with Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab (within 4 months from the start of the treatment). At least one measurable (per RECIST 1.1) untreated lesion. ECOG-PS: 0-1, Child-Pugh A. Adequate hematologic and end-organ function, defined by the following laboratory test results, obtained within 7 days prior to recruitment [...]: For women of childbearing potential: agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use contraceptive methods, and agreement to refrain from donating eggs, as defined below. Women must remain abstinent or use contraceptive methods with a failure rate of < 1% per year while they are receiving atezolizumab and bevacizumab and for 5 months after the final dose of atezolizumab and for 6 months after the final dose of bevacizumab. Women must refrain from donating eggs during the same period Men with female partners of childbearing potential, men must remain abstinent or use a condom plus an additional contraceptive method that together result in a failure rate of <1% per year during the treatment period and for 6 months after the last dose of bevacizumab. Men must refrain from donating sperm during this same period
Who cannot take part
- History of leptomeningeal disease or brain metastases. Active or history of autoimmune disease or immune deficiency, including, but not limited to, myasthenia gravis, myositis, autoimmune hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Wegener granulomatosis, Sjögren syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, or multiple sclerosis, with some expceptions (see full protocol for details). ● History of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, organizing pneumonia (e.g., bronchiolitis obliterans), drug-induced pneumonitis, or idiopathic pneumonitis, or evidence of active pneumonitis on screening chest computed tomography (CT) scan. Active tubercolosis. Significant cardiovascular disease (...) within 3 months prior to initiation of study treatment, unstable arrhythmia, or unstable angina History of congenital long QT syndrome or corrected QT interval >500 ms (...) at screening Active malignancy in advanced stage other than HCC within 1 year prior to screening (....) Prior severe adverse reaction to either Atezolizumab or Bevacizumab which either was not manageable with low dose steroid therapy or required a treatment interruption. History of uncorrectable electrolyte disorder affecting serum levels of potassium, calcium, or magnesium Major surgical procedure, other than for diagnosis, within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, or anticipation of need for a major surgical procedure during the study Severe infection within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, including, but not limited to, hospitalization for complications of infection, bacteremia, or severe pneumonia or any active infection that could impact patient safety Treatment with therapeutic oral or IV antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment Patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., to prevent a urinary tract infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation) are eligible for the study. Antibiotics administered within 30 days prior to initiation of study treatment have to be recorded in eCRF. Prior allogeneic stem cell or solid organ transplantation Any other disease, metabolic dysfunction, physical examination finding, or clinical laboratory finding that contraindicates the use of an investigational drug, may affect the interpretation of the results, or may render the patient at high risk from treatment complications Treatment with a live, attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, or anticipation of need for such a vaccine during atezolizumab treatment or within 5 months after the last dose of atezolizumab History of severe allergic anaphylactic reactions to chimeric or humanized antibodies or fusion proteins Known hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or to any component of the atezolizumab or bevacizumab formulation Pregnancy or breastfeeding, or intention of becoming pregnant during study treatment or within at least 5 months after the last dose of atezolizumab and 6 months after the last dose of bevacizumab Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test result within 14 days prior to initiation of study treatment Known fibrolamellar HCC, sarcomatoid HCC, or mixed cholangiocarcinoma and HCC Untreated or incompletely treated esophageal and/or gastric varices with bleeding or high-risk for bleeding (see full protocol for details)
Where in Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Bologna IRCCS Istituto Di Ricerca E Di Cura A Carattere ScientificoBologna, ItalyTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The primary objective of the study is to assess safety and efficacy of FMT in addition to atezolizumab+bevacizumab therapy in patients with early (<4 months) progression to the combination of the two drugs in first line for HCC.
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on the EU's official list of trials (CTIS).
- Official title
- Fecal Microbiota Transplantation to RESCUE patients with unresectable Hcc progressors to first line therapy with AtezolizUmaB and Bevacizumab (RESCUE-HUB)
- Plain-language title
- Adding Fecal Microbiota Transplant to Liver Cancer Treatment After Early ProgressionGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 11 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 25 September 2026