Intrahepatic CholangiocarcinomaPhase 2NCT05328167
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for the Prediction of Bile Duct Cancer Response to Radioembolization Treatment
A Phase 2 study testing Perflutren Protein-Type A Microspheres and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in people with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma, run by Thomas Jefferson University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This phase II trial tests whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound can predict the response of bile duct cancer to targeted radiotherapy (radioembolization treatment). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound uses gas microbubbles that may provide enhancement on ultrasound. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
- What is being tested?
- Perflutren Protein-Type A Microspheres and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 16 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 14 Dec 2021to 31 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Be scheduled for sub-lobar radioembolization therapy of a previously untreated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma greater than 1 cm but small enough to be fully visualized in the ultrasound three-dimensional (3D) volume (approximately 6 cm maximum diameter, but depth dependent)
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be medically stable
- If a female of child-bearing age, have a negative pregnancy test prior to each ultrasound exam
- Have signed Informed Consent to participate in the study
Who cannot join
- Females who are pregnant or nursing
- Patients with recent cerebral hemorrhage
- Patients with known sensitivities to albumin, blood, or blood products
- Patients with known hypersensitivity to perflutren
- Patients with known congenital heart defects
- Patients with severe emphysema, pulmonary vasculitis, or a history of pulmonary emboli
- Patients with bilirubin levels > 2 mg/dL
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107
About this study
Official title: Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Diagnosis and Therapy of Cholangiocarcinoma
This phase II trial tests whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound can predict the response of bile duct cancer to targeted radiotherapy (radioembolization treatment). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound uses gas microbubbles that may provide enhancement on ultrasound. It is also possible to pop these microbubbles using ultrasound imaging. Tumors that experience popping of these microbubbles may be easier to kill with radiotherapies. Therefore, this trial may also help doctors see if ultrasound-triggered microbubble popping can improve bile duct cancer response to radiotherapy. Another purpose of this trial is to test if the pressure inside the tumor estimated through ultrasound can be used to predict the tumor response to radiotherapy.
Read the detailed description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
- To determine the ability of quantitative volumetric contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to predict non-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor response to transarterial radioembolization (TARE) prior to therapy.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
- To characterize the safety and preliminary efficacy of using localized ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) inertial cavitation to improve ICC response to radioembolization.
II. To determine if CEUS estimated tumor perfusion and residual vascularity 7-14 days post treatment can predict ICC response to radioembolization.
III. To evaluate tumoral response using the patient's 1 month magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (obtained clinically) and determine the accuracy of MR or computed tomography (CT) tumor evaluation at this earlier time point.
EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:
- To examine the utility of subharmonic aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) to noninvasively monitor tumoral interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) and provide an early biomarker of radiotherapy response.
OUTLINE:
Patients receive perflutren protein-type A microspheres intravenously (IV) over 10 minutes and undergo ultrasound at 1 month before TARE, 1-4 hours, 1 week, and 2 weeks post-TARE.
After completion of study, patients are followed for 1 year.
- Conditions
- Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
- Being tested
- Perflutren Protein-Type A Microspheres, Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound
- Medical subject headings
- Cholangiocarcinoma
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Perflutren Protein-Type A MicrospheresDrug
Also called Optison
Given IV
Contrast-Enhanced UltrasoundProcedure or surgery
Also called CEUS
Undergo CEUS
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic (perflutren protein-type A microspheres, CEUS) | Experimental | Patients receive perflutren protein-type A microspheres IV over 10 minutes and undergo ultrasound at 1 month before TARE, 1-4 hours, 1 week, and 2 weeks post-TARE. Receives: Drug: Perflutren Protein-Type A Microspheres; Procedure: Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Participants With Tumor Complete Response (CR)
Assessed by modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria using contrast-enhanced CT or MRI reviewed by two independent readers. Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), >=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Progressive Disease (PD), indicated by a significant increase (at least 20%) in target lesions or the appearance of new target lesions; Stable Disease (SD) means neither the criteria for PR nor for Progressive Disease (PD) have been met.
Measured: assessed at 3 to 6 months post-TARE
Number of Participants With Tumor Partial Response (PR)
Assessed by modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria using contrast-enhanced CT or MRI reviewed by two independent readers. Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), >=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Progressive Disease (PD), indicated by a significant increase (at least 20%) in target lesions or the appearance of new target lesions; Stable Disease (SD) means neither the criteria for PR nor for Progressive Disease (PD) have been met.
Measured: assessed at 3 to 6 months post-TARE
Number of Participants With Stable Disease
Assessed by modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria using contrast-enhanced CT or MRI reviewed by two independent readers. Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), >=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Progressive Disease (PD), indicated by a significant increase (at least 20%) in target lesions or the appearance of new target lesions; Stable Disease (SD) means neither the criteria for PR nor for Progressive Disease (PD) have been met.
Measured: assessed at 3 to 6 months post-TARE
Number of Participants With Progressive Disease
Assessed by modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria using contrast-enhanced CT or MRI reviewed by two independent readers. Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), >=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Progressive Disease (PD), indicated by a significant increase (at least 20%) in target lesions or the appearance of new target lesions; Stable Disease (SD) means neither the criteria for PR nor for Progressive Disease (PD) have been met.
Measured: assessed at 3 to 6 months post-TARE
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Apr 2022
- Study start14 Dec 2021
- Primary completion31 Jul 2025
- Study completion31 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Intrahepatic CholangiocarcinomaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Thomas Jefferson UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 16 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Thomas Jefferson University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05328167
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 21F.1081
- Other IDs
- JT 19280, R21CA259750
- Status last verified
- Oct 2025
- First submitted
- 7 Apr 2022
- Last updated
- 28 Oct 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Oct 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound for Diagnosis and Therapy of Cholangiocarcinoma
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05328167
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 21F.1081
- Conditions
- Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 16 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Thomas Jefferson UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Study start
- 14 Dec 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 28 Oct 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This phase II trial tests whether contrast-enhanced ultrasound can predict the response of bile duct cancer to targeted radiotherapy (radioembolization treatment). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound uses gas microbubbles that may provide enhancement on ultrasound. It is also possible to pop these microbubbles using ultrasound imaging. Tumors that experience popping of these microbubbles may be easier to kill with radiotherapies. Therefore, this trial may also help doctors see if ultrasound-triggered microbubble popping can improve bile duct cancer response to radiotherapy. Another purpose of this trial is to test if the pressure inside the tumor estimated through ultrasound can be used to predict the tumor response to radiotherapy.
Detailed description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
- To determine the ability of quantitative volumetric contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to predict non-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor response to transarterial radioembolization (TARE) prior to therapy.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
- To characterize the safety and preliminary efficacy of using localized ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) inertial cavitation to improve ICC response to radioembolization.
II. To determine if CEUS estimated tumor perfusion and residual vascularity 7-14 days post treatment can predict ICC response to radioembolization.
III. To evaluate tumoral response using the patient's 1 month magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (obtained clinically) and determine the accuracy of MR or computed tomography (CT) tumor evaluation at this earlier time point.
EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:
- To examine the utility of subharmonic aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) to noninvasively monitor tumoral interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) and provide an early biomarker of radiotherapy response.
OUTLINE:
Patients receive perflutren protein-type A microspheres intravenously (IV) over 10 minutes and undergo ultrasound at 1 month before TARE, 1-4 hours, 1 week, and 2 weeks post-TARE.
After completion of study, patients are followed for 1 year.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic (perflutren protein-type A microspheres, CEUS) | Experimental | Drug: Perflutren Protein-Type A Microspheres, Procedure: Contrast-Enhanced UltrasoundPatients receive perflutren protein-type A microspheres IV over 10 minutes and undergo ultrasound at 1 month before TARE, 1-4 hours, 1 week, and 2 weeks post-TARE. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Be scheduled for sub-lobar radioembolization therapy of a previously untreated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma greater than 1 cm but small enough to be fully visualized in the ultrasound three-dimensional (3D) volume (approximately 6 cm maximum diameter, but depth dependent)
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be medically stable
- If a female of child-bearing age, have a negative pregnancy test prior to each ultrasound exam
- Have signed Informed Consent to participate in the study
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Females who are pregnant or nursing
- Patients with recent cerebral hemorrhage
- Patients with known sensitivities to albumin, blood, or blood products
- Patients with known hypersensitivity to perflutren
- Patients with known congenital heart defects
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Perflutren Protein-Type A MicrospheresAlso: OptisonGiven IV | Drug | Diagnostic (perflutren protein-type A microspheres, CEUS) |
| Contrast-Enhanced UltrasoundAlso: CEUSUndergo CEUS | Procedure or surgery | Diagnostic (perflutren protein-type A microspheres, CEUS) |
Primary outcome
Number of Participants With Tumor Complete Response (CR)
Time frame: assessed at 3 to 6 months post-TARE
Assessed by modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria using contrast-enhanced CT or MRI reviewed by two independent readers. Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), >=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Progressive Disease (PD), indicated by a significant increase (at least 20%) in target lesions or the appearance of new target lesions; Stable Disease (SD) means neither the criteria for PR nor for Progressive Disease (PD) have been met.
Number of Participants With Tumor Partial Response (PR)
Time frame: assessed at 3 to 6 months post-TARE
Assessed by modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria using contrast-enhanced CT or MRI reviewed by two independent readers. Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), >=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Progressive Disease (PD), indicated by a significant increase (at least 20%) in target lesions or the appearance of new target lesions; Stable Disease (SD) means neither the criteria for PR nor for Progressive Disease (PD) have been met.
Number of Participants With Stable Disease
Time frame: assessed at 3 to 6 months post-TARE
Assessed by modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria using contrast-enhanced CT or MRI reviewed by two independent readers. Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), >=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Progressive Disease (PD), indicated by a significant increase (at least 20%) in target lesions or the appearance of new target lesions; Stable Disease (SD) means neither the criteria for PR nor for Progressive Disease (PD) have been met.
Number of Participants With Progressive Disease
Time frame: assessed at 3 to 6 months post-TARE
Assessed by modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria using contrast-enhanced CT or MRI reviewed by two independent readers. Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), >=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Progressive Disease (PD), indicated by a significant increase (at least 20%) in target lesions or the appearance of new target lesions; Stable Disease (SD) means neither the criteria for PR nor for Progressive Disease (PD) have been met.
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Oct 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Perflutren Protein-Type A Microspheres and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in people with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma, run by Thomas Jefferson University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Oct 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 28 Oct 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of Participants With Tumor Complete Response (CR) (time frame: assessed at 3 to 6 months post-TARE). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Oct 2025.