Background: Propranolol and etodolac (designated VT-122) target the adrenergic and prostaglandin stress systems activated in HCC. These stress-induced systems are proposed to induce changes in the tumor microenvironment and immune system leading to tumor promotion and immune tolerance. In a separate study, administration of VT-122 prior to sorafenib showed an increase in median overall survival (OS) of 21 months when VT-122 is administered before sorafenib compared to 10 months OS for sorafenib alone. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of administering VT-122 at least 30 days after starting sorafenib. Methods: Patients with HCC receiving sorafenib for at least 30 days were eligible for this double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients were randomized to receive sorafenib with either VT-122 or placebo. Patients received therapy for up to 12 months or until treatment failure. VT-122 was administered twice daily. The primary endpoint was duration of therapy (DoT) and the secondary endpoint was OS. Results: Twenty patients were randomized, 11 and 9 patients to the VT122 and placebo arm, respectively. Each arm was balanced with regards to age (mean of 60.4 years), Child Pugh status (9 Child Pugh A, 11 Child Pugh B7), hepatitis virus status (6 HBV and 1 HCV positive) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (20.4 mg/L). VT122 with sorafenib was well tolerated with no unexpected serious adverse events reported. Mean OS was 13.9 months and 9.6 months in the VT-122 and placebo arms, respectively. Mean DoT (unvalidated) was 10.1 months and 7.5 months in the VT-122 and placebo arms, respectively. Conclusions: Co-administration of VT-122 with sorafenib was well tolerated and showed an increase in duration of therapy and OS versus sorafenib alone. The small sample size and number of events precludes the ability to make any significant efficacy conclusions. The increase in survival was not as great as that seen in a separate study in which VT122 was started prior to sorafenib. A further Phase 3 study of VT122 administered prior to sorafenib in patients with HCC is warranted. Clinical trial information: NCT01265576