SAMe for Prevention of Liver Cancer in MASLD-Related Cirrhosis

NCT07495995 | Not Yet Recruiting Phase 2 FDA Drug

• 1 other identifier: STUDY00004355
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 94
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) compared with placebo in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) cirrhosis. Investigators will assess whether treatment is associated with changes in liver-related clinical measures, biologic markers, and other study outcomes relevant to disease progression. The goal of this study is to generate early data to determine whether SAMe should be studied further as a potential therapeutic strategy in patients with MASLD cirrhosis.

Conditions

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Prognostic Liver Secretome signature (PLSec) score

  Prognostic Liver Secretome signature (PLSec) is a continuous serum biomarker score used to assess hepatocellular carcinoma risk. Higher PLSec scores indicate higher hepatocellular carcinoma risk, and lower PLSec scores indicate lower hepatocellular carcinoma risk. The primary analysis compares change from baseline to Month 12 between the SAMe and placebo groups. The protocol does not specify a fixed theoretical minimum or maximum PLSec score.

  Baseline to Month 12

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events

  Day 0 through 30 days after the last dose of study intervention

Other Outcomes (2)

• Change in tumor-promoting extracellular vesicle microRNA levels

  Baseline, Month 6, and Month 12

• Change in Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index

  Baseline, Month 6, and Month 12

Study Arms (2)

SAMe

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive oral S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) 1,200 mg/day in two divided doses for 12 months.

Drug: S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe)

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants will receive matching placebo for 12 months.

Other: Placabo

Interventions

S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) DRUG

Oral S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) administered at 1,200 mg/day in two divided doses for 12 months. Each tablet provides 400 mg of SAMe (from 800 mg SAMe tosylate disulfate). Participants are instructed to take 2 tablets in the morning before breakfast and 1 tablet in the evening before dinner, approximately 30 minutes before meals.

SAMe

Placabo OTHER

Matching placebo tablets for oral administration, administered on the same schedule as active SAMe for 12 months. Participants are instructed to take 2 tablets in the morning before breakfast and 1 tablet in the evening before dinner, approximately 30 minutes before meals. Placebo tablets are identical or similar to active SAMe tablets in size, color, shape, taste, and odor/appearance to maintain blinding.

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• individuals 18 years old or above.
• Understand the study procedures and able to provide informed consent.
• Clinical diagnosis of MASLD per American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) guideline: Patients with hepatic steatosis identified by imaging or biopsy, AND have at least one of five cardiometabolic risk factors:
• (i) BMI ≥25 kg/m2 (23 kg/m2 for Asian) OR waist circumference \>94 cm for male or \>80 cm for female.
• (ii) Fasting serum glucose ≥5.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) OR 2-hour post-load glucose levels ≥7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) OR HbA1c ≥5.7% (39 mg/dL) OR type 2 diabetes OR treatment for type 2 diabetes (iii) Blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg OR specific antihypertensive drug treatment. (iv) Plasma triglycerides ≥1.7 mmol/L (150 mg/dL) OR lipid lowering treatment (v) Plasma HDL-cholesterol ≤1.0 mmol/L (40 mg/dL) for male or ≤1.3 mmol/L (50 mg/dL) for female OR lipid lowering treatment.
• Current weekly intake of alcohol \<210 g (7.41 oz) for male or weekly intake of alcohol \<140 g (4.76 oz) for female, \[1 oz/30 mL of alcohol is present in one 12 oz/360 mL beer, 4 oz/120 mL glass of wine, and a 1oz/30 mL measure of 40 proof (20%) alcohol\]
• Diagnosis of cirrhosis confirmed via histopathology OR at least two of the following measures:
• (i) Transient elastography (FibroScan® ≥ 12 kPa) (ii) Computed tomography (iii) MRI including MR elastography (stiffness ≥ 4.71 kPa) (iv) Abdominal Ultrasound
• Patient had imaging for HCC screening (Ultrasound or MRI or CT) within 3 months prior to screening.

You may not qualify if:

• Confirmed diagnosis of HCC prior to screening, any suspicious nodules identified prior or during screening must be followed with documentation of HCC negative confirmed prior to randomization.
• History of other causes of liver disease, including but not limited to alcoholic liver disease, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, autoimmune disorders (primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, or autoimmune hepatitis), drug-induced hepatotoxicity, Wilson's disease, iron overload, or alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
• Most recent serum creatinine \>1.5 mg/dl within 3 months prior to screening.
• Active infection with positive urine culture, blood culture, or pneumonia at screening.
• History of gastrointestinal bleeding within the prior 28 days
• History of liver transplantation.
• Women who are pregnant or nursing at screening.
• Significant systemic illness including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and renal failure that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude the patient from participating in the study or poses a significant risk of mortality during the study period, such as conditions that are interfering with the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) such as those with gastric bypass surgery.
• HIV infection or patients who are immunocompromised.
• Participation in another investigational drug, biologic, or medical device trial within 30 days prior to screening.
• Systemic antibiotic use or use of rifaximin for 10 days or more within the last 2 months prior to screening.
• Actively taking investigational or over-the-counter SAMe within 28 days prior to screening.
• Subjects with psychiatric illnesses such as bipolar disorders and Parkinson's disease as SAMe may interfere with the levels of anti-psychotic drugs and might interact with drugs and dietary supplements that increase levels of serotonin (a chemical produced by nerve cells), such as antidepressants, L-tryptophan, and St. John's wort.
• Members from the same family of study participant.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: lead

MeSH Terms

Interventions

S-Adenosylmethionine

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Methionine; Amino Acids, Sulfur; Sulfur Compounds; Organic Chemicals; Adenosine; Purine Nucleosides; Purines; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Amino Acids; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Nucleosides; Nucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides; Ribonucleosides

Central Study Contacts

Ju Dong Yang, MD

CONTACT

3109677454; judong.yang@cshs.org

Manaf Alsudaney, MD

CONTACT

3109677454; manaf.alsudaney@cshs.org

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
• Masking Details: Matched placebo tablets are identical in appearance and similar in odor to active SAMe tablets. Patients and care providers will remain blinded to treatment assignment. Investigators will use centralized randomization, and study product will be dispensed using coded lot numbers, with the treatment code maintained in a sealed unblinding record for use only if needed. At the end of the trial, patients will be asked whether they believed they received active treatment or placebo.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor, Medical Director, Liver Cancer Program

Model Details: Participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive oral SAMe 1,200 mg/day in two divided doses or matching placebo for 12 months.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 22, 2026
• First Posted: March 27, 2026
• Study Start: April 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2031
• Last Updated: March 31, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03