Blocking liver veins in colorectal cancer that has spread to liver
Compares vein blocking methods in colorectal cancer spread to liver.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: The DRAGON 2 Trial
Key facts
- Where
- Linköping and Stockholm, SwedenSee the 2 sites
AI summary: who the study is looking for
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 whose colorectal cancer has spread to the liver, and whose liver would be too small after surgery. It compares two embolization procedures.
- Age
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Men and women
- Disease stage
- Colorectal cancer that spread to the liver and cannot be removed at first, but may become removable. The part of the liver left after surgery is smaller than 30% (smaller than 40% if chemotherapy damaged the liver). Lung or brain spread can be included if it can be removed or ablated.
- Earlier treatment
- A person with the original bowel cancer not yet removed can join if the plan is to remove it later or during a liver procedure. Cancer that grew after chemotherapy, or that disappeared completely after chemotherapy, cannot join.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Women before menopause who cannot or will not use oral contraception
- Spread outside the liver that cannot be removed or ablated
- Liver cancer other than colorectal cancer spread
- Liver anatomy or tumor position that rules out the combined procedure
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you 18 years old or older?
- Has a doctor told you that the part of your liver that would be left after surgery may be too small?
- Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
Source: NCT05428735, who can take part
Where in Sweden
- Linkoping University HospitalLinköping, SwedenTaking people
- Karolinska University HospitalStockholm, SwedenTaking people
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?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Maastricht University
- Trial code
- NCT05428735
- Record updated
- 1 November 2024
- Original description
In the randomized controlled DRAGON 2 trial study subjects will be randomized between two arms, PVE alone (control group) and PVE/HVE (interventional group).Read full original descriptionShow less
An International Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial to Compare Combined Portal and Hepatic Vein Embolization (PVE/HVE) with PVE Alone in Patients with Colorectal Liver Cancer Metastases (CRLM) and a Small Future Liver Remnant (FLR)
In the randomized controlled DRAGON 2 trial study subjects will be randomized between two arms, PVE alone (control group) and PVE/HVE (interventional group).
Inclusion: Patients with primarily unresectable/ potentially resectable CRLM with a FLR <30% (<40% in chemotherapy damaged livers); Patients with non-resected primary CRC may be included if there is an intention to resect the CRC after the liver treatment (liver first approach) or simultaneously during one of the liver procedures; Patients with resectable or ablatable lung or brain metastases can be included (statement about the resectability of these extrahepatic metastases by a tumor board needs to be available); 18 Years and older; Men and women; Able to understand the trial and provide informed consent.
Exclusion: Complete response after conversion chemotherapy; Any patient with non-resectable or non-ablatable extrahepatic disease; Patients with hepatic malignancies other than CRLM; Progression of disease by RECIST criteria after cytoreduction chemotherapy; Staging CT and (if indicated) CT/MRI brain that demonstrates non-resectable extrahepatic disease; Pregnant or lactating female; Premenopausal females not able or willing to commit to oral contraception; Patients with prohibitive comorbidities, decision made by local team; The anatomy of the liver or manifestation of tumors in relation to the liver veins prohibits the use of combined PVE/HVE.