This phase II trial tests epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) for its efficacy and safety in preventing development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis.
This study will evaluate whether EGCG favorably modulate an HCC risk biomarker (PLSec) with acceptable safety profile in patients with compensated cirrhosis and elevated HCC risk determined by clinical variable-based score (FIB-4 index) and PLSec. Sixty participants will be randomized (1:1) to either the study drub or placebo arm and receive the treatment for 24 weeks. The participants will orally take EGCG 600 mg capsules or placebo for the first 12 weeks. If an interim PLSec analysis at the end of week 8 is not improved without any dose-limiting adverse events, the dose will be increased to 800 mg for the second 12 weeks. If the interim PLSec is improved, 600 mg will be continued. After completing the 24-week treatment, change in the PLSec test with the treatment is calculated by comparing pre- and post-treatment serum samples in each patient, and the changes will be compared between the treatment arms (primary endpoint). Complete adverse event profiles will be recorded, and change in quality of life will be compared between the treatment arms (secondary endpoints). If optional paired liver biopsy tissues are obtained, changes in tissue-based HCC risk biomarker (PLS) and immunohistochemical markers of cell proliferation, neoplasm, senescence, and fibrogenesis will be determined, changes in the FIB-4 index and liver stiffness measurement will be determined, and association with incident HCC during the study period will be evaluated (exploratory endpoints).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
60
EGCG is a green tea-derived catechin
Placebo in the same capsule with the experimental agent (EGCG).
UT Southwestern
Dallas, Texas, United States
RECRUITINGChange in Prognostic Liver Secretome signature (PLSec) score
HCC risk level at baseline and post-treatment will be determined as Prognostic Liver Secretome signature (PLSec) score, ranging from 0 (lowest risk) to 8 (highest risk). Change in the biomarker-based HCC risk level will be calculated as delta-PLSec by subtracting the post-treatment PLSec score from the baseline pre-treatment PLSec score. delta-PLSec values will be compared between the EGCG and placebo arms using two-sample t-test.
Time frame: Baseline to week 24
Complete adverse event profile
Adverse events are monitored at least monthly and graded/recorded according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5. The number and severity of adverse events will be tabulated and summarized across all grades. Grade 3+ adverse events will be similarly described and summarized separately.
Time frame: Baseline to week 24
Change in quality of life measured by the chronic liver disease questionnaire
Quality of life (QOL) will be measured by using the chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ), which consists of 29 questions. Participants can select one answer from seven choices of descriptive answers for each question. Frequency distributions, graphical techniques and other descriptive measures will be used to summarize the results. When frequencies are compared, Fisher's exact test will be used.
Time frame: Baseline to week 24
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