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Using 3D-printed liver models to choose treatment after liver cancer surgery

Tests 3D-printed liver models to guide treatment after hepatocellular carcinoma surgery.

Key facts

Who runs it
The University of Hong Kong
Where
Hong Kong, Hong KongSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Treatment Selection by 3D Bioprinting Liver Model to Prevent Liver Cancer Recurrence
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
20 people, planned
Started
13 Apr 2026
Expected to end
31 Dec 2031
Type of study
Observational
Treatments tested
  • Liver-in-cube testing
Record updated
24 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 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who will have liver surgery or ablation and have a higher risk that the cancer comes back. Samples are taken to build a 3D liver model that tests treatment options.

Age
18 years or older
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
HCC with a higher risk of coming back after surgery: any tumour 5cm (2 in) or larger, 3 or more tumours, invasion of blood vessels, or poorly differentiated tumour. ECOG performance status 0 or 1.
Earlier treatment
No earlier systemic (whole-body) therapy for HCC. Earlier local treatment such as TACE, RFA or SBRT before surgery is allowed.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Liver cancer types other than HCC, such as fibrolamellar HCC, sarcomatoid HCC or mixed HCC cholangiocarcinoma
  • Child-Pugh class C liver cirrhosis
  • Any earlier systemic therapy for HCC
  • Another active cancer within 5 years (some very low-risk cancers are allowed)
  • Not willing to give written consent for samples

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 11 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Age ≥ 18 years at the time of screening
  • Diagnosis of HCC
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) score of 0 or 1
  • With or without prior locoregional therapy such as transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) before surgery - Meet any item indicating higher risk of tumour recurrence: any tumour size ≥ 5cm, number of tumour ≥ 3, presence of microvascular or marcovascular invasion, or poor tumour differentiation
  • No prior systemic therapy for HCC
  • No other active malignancies within 5 years, except malignancies with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (eg. 5-year overall survival rate > 90%), such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, non-melanoma skin carcinoma, localised prostate cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, or stage I uterine cancer
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent for the collection and usage of biological samples

Who cannot take part

  • Receipt of any prior systemic therapy for HCC
  • Non-HCC diagnosis, including fibrolamellar HCC, sarcomatoid HCC, mixed HCC cholangiocarcinoma etc
  • Fail to give consent or refusal to take part in the study
  • Child-Pugh class C liver cirrhosis

Where in Hong Kong

  • Queen Mary HospitalHong Kong, Hong KongContact: Albert ChanTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

This study is a feasibility study about a test on adjuvant therapy for patients in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a higher risk of tumour recurrence after liver resection or ablation. By collecting individual patient's liver and tumour tissue during surgical operation, 3D bioprinting technology will be adopted to construct patient-specific biomimetic liver models -'Liver-in-Cube', to test and identify the most effective adjuvant therapy for individual patients, thereby personalising treatment and improving treatment outcomes, and hence reducing the recurrence rate of HCC.

Read full original descriptionShow less

This is a phase II, non-randomised, open-label, single-centre, prospective feasibility study designed to evaluate the use of biomimetic 3D bioprinting technology in guiding the selection of adjuvant treatment regimens to prevent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after curative liver resection. The study will be conducted at Queen Mary Hospital as a 5 years project.

A total of 20 HCC patients who are going to receive liver resection or ablation with a higher risk of tumour recurrence will be recruited. Patients will be identified from clinic and asked if willing to participate in the study. Consent will be signed before operation. Biological samples such as tissue and blood samples will be collected during operation for Liver-in-Cube construction. Patients will receive standard post operative care upon discharge, follow-up in clinic regularly as usual, and be referred to collaborated oncologists for adjuvant therapy. A 1-month post operative scan will also be arranged as standard procedure to confirm the post operative disease status. Result from Liver-in-Cube will be treated as an additional information about adjuvant therapy in preventing HCC recurrence. Patients will discuss with oncologists and decide if to adopt adjuvant therapy or not for HCC recurrence prevention. During the follow-up period, blood samples will also be collected for laboratory analysis outside the routine blood assessment.

Treatments tested

  • Liver-in-cube testing

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Implementation of Biomimetic 3D Bioprinting Technology in Selecting Optimal Regimens as Adjuvant Therapy to Prevent Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Liver Resection or Ablation: a Feasibility Study
Plain-language title
Using 3D-printed liver models to choose treatment after liver cancer surgeryGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 13 November 2026.
Record updated
24 September 2026