Histotripsy to Destroy Liver Tumours in People in Asia
Tests histotripsy, a focused sound-wave treatment, in people with liver cancer.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Histotripsy for Ablation of Liver Tumours in Asia
Key facts
- Where
- Singapore, SingaporeSee the 3 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 with liver cancer that is limited to the liver, or with a few liver tumours that are growing despite drug treatment. The tumours must be small and treatable with histotripsy, an ultrasound-based treatment.
- Age
- 21 to 99 years
- Sex
- All
- Disease stage
- Liver-limited primary or secondary liver cancer that cannot have or has declined surgery or other local treatment. Or any solid cancer on systemic therapy with up to 3 liver lesions that are growing. Up to 3 liver tumours, each 3 cm (1.2 in) or smaller, that can be seen and targeted by ultrasound.
- Earlier treatment
- For the growing-lesion group: more than 3 months of systemic therapy before. No other interventional trial in the 4 weeks before enrolment.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Cancer spread outside the liver needing immediate drug treatment, including new brain metastases or malignant ascites
- Tumour growing into major portal vein or hepatic vein branches
- Tumour less than 5 mm from a hollow organ such as the stomach or colon
- Tumour that cannot be seen or reached by ultrasound
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
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 between 21 and 99 years old?
Source: NCT07428356, who can take part
Where in Singapore
- National Cancer Centre SingaporeSingapore, SingaporeTaking people
- National University HospitalSingapore, SingaporeTaking people
- Singapore General HospitalSingapore, SingaporeTaking 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?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore
- Trial code
- NCT07428356
- Record updated
- 8 October 2026
- Original description
The HALT study aims to evaluate histotripsy in an Asian population for both primary (HCC, CCA) and secondary liver malignancies with liver-limited or oligoprogressive disease. In addition to safety and local control, the study incorporates translational endpoints including immune profiling (PBMCs, cytokines), microbiome shifts, and optional tumour biopsies. This trial will provide critical data on the feasibility, tolerability, and biological impact of histotripsy in a region with the highest burden of liver cancer.Read full original descriptionShow less
Histotripsy Ablation for Liver Tumours (HALT): A Multi-centre Prospective Pilot Study on the Safety and Efficacy of Histotripsy in Asian Primary and Secondary Liver Malignancies
The HALT study aims to evaluate histotripsy in an Asian population for both primary (HCC, CCA) and secondary liver malignancies with liver-limited or oligoprogressive disease. In addition to safety and local control, the study incorporates translational endpoints including immune profiling (PBMCs, cytokines), microbiome shifts, and optional tumour biopsies. This trial will provide critical data on the feasibility, tolerability, and biological impact of histotripsy in a region with the highest burden of liver cancer.
Inclusion: Age ≥21 years at the time of consent; Histologically/cytologically confirmed cancers (imaging diagnosis as per AASLD allowed for HCC):; Liver limited malignancies (primary or secondary) not eligible for/declined resection or other locoregional treatment modalities; All solid cancer patients (e.g., HCC, colorectal, breast, pancreatic cancers etc) undergoing systemic therapy with oligoprogressive liver disease (defined as ≤ 3 liver limited progressive lesions, ≤ 3 cm in maximum diameter having received > 3 months of systemic therapy); Characteristics of hepatic lesions intended for treatment:; Up to 3 hepatic lesions; Tumour ≤ 3 cm in longest diameter; Lesion(s) must be visible and targetable by ultrasound; ECOG Performance Status 0-1; Child-Pugh class A or B7 liver function for patients with underlying cirrhosis; Adequate hematologic and organ function within 14 days prior to treatment:; Haemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL; Platelets ≥ 75,000/mm³; INR ≤ 1.5 × ULN; Estimated (by Cockroft-Gault or Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) or measured creatinine clearance ≥ 50ml/min; Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × upper limit normal or direct bilirubin ≤ ULN for participants with total bilirubin > 1.5 × ULN (participants with known history of elevated indirect bilirubin level suggestive of extrahepatic source of elevation e.g. Gilbert's disease may be recruited with bilirubin levels ≤ 3 × ULN); AST and ALT ≤ 5 × ULN; Ability to undergo general anaesthesia, as confirmed by pre-anaesthetic assessment; Life expectancy ≥ 3 months in the opinion of the investigator; Willing and able to comply with study visits and procedures; Written informed consent obtained prior to any study-related procedures.
Exclusion: Contraindications to general anaesthesia or surgery; Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days prior to treatment; Participation in another interventional trial within 4 weeks prior to enrollment, or concurrent participation in a therapeutic study; Extrahepatic disease progression requiring immediate systemic intervention, including new brain metastases or malignant ascites; Tumours located adjacent (<5 mm) to hollow viscera (e.g., stomach, colon) where histotripsy poses perforation risk; Severe or uncontrolled comorbidities including:; Uncontrolled hypertension or cardiovascular disease; Active infection (requiring systemic therapy); Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or hypoxia; Any condition that, in the investigator's judgment, may compromise the patient's safety or interfere with protocol adherence; Vascular invasion, defined as gross involvement or encasement of major portal vein or hepatic vein branches; Lesions poorly visualized on ultrasound or not targetable due to overlying ribs or gas.