eligibility_summary
Eligibility: adults with HCC (BCLC B/C), hTERT+, ECOG 0–1, Child-Pugh A, life expectancy ≥3 months. Exclusions: moderate/severe ascites, prior hepatic encephalopathy, other cancers, current/past HIV, or investigator deems unsuitable.
trial_source
clinical_trials.gov from Dec 2, 2025
annotation_status
manual_review_required
ai_summary
Phase 1b/2a, open-label dose-escalation trial in hTERT-positive HCC testing RZ-001 + valganciclovir with atezolizumab/bevacizumab. RZ-001 is a gene therapy (adenoviral vector) carrying an hTERT-targeted trans-splicing ribozyme that converts hTERT mRNA to express HSV-1 thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) in tumor cells. Valganciclovir (antiviral prodrug) is then phosphorylated by HSV-TK to cytotoxic metabolites, killing hTERT-expressing cells with bystander/immunogenic effects. Atezolizumab is an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (checkpoint inhibitor) restoring T-cell function. Bevacizumab is an anti-VEGF-A monoclonal antibody (anti-angiogenic) improving vascular normalization and immune infiltration. Targets/pathways: hTERT+ tumor cells, HSV-TK/ganciclovir suicide pathway, PD-1/PD-L1 axis, VEGF/VEGFR angiogenesis.