SWOG S0809: A Phase II Intergroup Trial of Adjuvant Capecitabine and Gemcitabine Followed by Radiotherapy and Concurrent Capecitabine in Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma and Gallbladder Carcinoma

Current State of Multidisciplinary Treatment in Cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive malignancy, and its incidence seems to be increasing over the last years. Given the high rate of irresectability at the time of initial diagnosis, new treatment approaches are important to achieve better patient outcomes. Our review provides an overview of current multimodal therapy options across different specialties of gastroenterology/oncology, surgery, and interventional radiology.

SUMMARY

CCA is subdivided into clinically and molecularly distinct phenotypes. Surgical treatment currently is the only potentially curative therapy, but unfortunately, the majority of all patients are not eligible for resection at the time of initial diagnosis due to anatomic location, inadequate hepatic reserve, metastatic disease, or limiting comorbidities. However, multimodal treatment options are available to prolong survival, relieve symptoms, and maintain life quality.

KEY MESSAGES

The treatment of CCA is complex and requires close interdisciplinary collaboration and individualized treatment planning to ensure optimal patient care at specialized centers. Molecular profiling of patients and inclusion into clinical trials is highly recommended.

Approach to Resectable Biliary Cancers

OPINION STATEMENT

Biliary malignancies, although rare, can be some of the most challenging to manage surgically. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas are resectable if there is no evidence of metastatic disease. These tumors are managed with anatomic resection and portal lymphadenectomy when centrally located or multiple in a single lobe. Non-anatomic resection can be performed for solitary peripheral tumors with minimally invasive techniques. It is not our practice to routinely employ neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to resection of these tumors. Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy is utilized at our institution in highly selected patients in the context of an ongoing clinical trial for unresectable tumors. Hilar cholangiocarcinomas, when resectable (i.e., ipsilateral arterial involvement or lack of vascular involvement), are managed with right or left (extended) hepatectomy, caudate resection, and portal lymphadenectomy. Distal cholangiocarcinomas are managed with pancreaticoduodenectomy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is not routinely used in our treatment algorithm of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. Nodal involvement and positive margin (R1) resection necessitates adjuvant chemotherapy. Finally, gallbladder carcinoma is managed with radical cholecystectomy, anatomic segment IVb/V resection, and portal lymphadenectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy is employed routinely amongst patients with T2 or higher tumors and those with positive lymph nodes.

[Influence of molecular pathology on oncological surgery of liver and bile duct tumors]

BACKGROUND

Molecular pathology is increasingly being used to guide treatment in oncology. Approximately 25% of all hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and 50% of cholangiocarcinomas (CCA) present with known cancer-relevant mutations; however, the impact of the mutations on the treatment of these tumors is not yet sufficiently understood.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the current literature on molecular pathological advances in HCC/CCA and the potential impact on oncological surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A comprehensive search of the available literature on currently known molecular biomarkers in HCC/CCA was performed in PubMed and clinitrials.gov. Following review, the potential impact of these biomarkers on oncological surgery was analyzed and is discussed.

CONCLUSION

Molecular pathological investigations can be used to support the classification of tumors and to determine the dignity of HCC/CCA. Predictive molecular biomarkers are not yet established in routine diagnostics but can be used to individualize advanced oncological treatment.

Adjuvant radiotherapy improves long-term survival after resection for gallbladder cancer A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Data supporting routine use of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) compared to without RT (noRT) for gallbladder cancer (GBC) is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether RT improves long-term survival following resection for GBC.

METHODS

Patients receiving resection for GBC followed by RT from 2004 to 2016 were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Patients with survival <6 months were excluded to account for immortal time bias. Propensity score matching (PSM) and Cox regression was performed to account for selection bias and analyze impact of RT on overall survival.

RESULTS

Of 7514 (77%) noRT and 2261 (23%) RT, 2067 noRT and 2067 RT patients remained after PSM. After matching, RT was associated with improved survival (median: 26.2 vs 21.5 months, p < 0.001), which remained after multivariable adjustment (HR: 0.82, CI_95%: 0.76-0.89, p < 0.001). On multivariable interaction analyses, this benefit persisted irrespective of nodal status: N0 (HR: 0.84, CI_95%: 0.77-0.93), N1 (HR: 0.77, CI_95%: 0.68-0.88), N2/N3 (HR: 0.56, CI_95%: 0.35-0.91), margin status: R0 (HR: 0.85, CI_95%: 0.78-0.93), R1 (HR: 0.78, CI_95%: 0.68-0.88) and use of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) (HR: 0.67, CI_95%: 0.57-0.79). Benefit with RT were also seen in patients with T2 - T4 disease and in patients undergoing simple and extended cholecystectomy.

CONCLUSION

RT following resection was associated with improved survival in this study, even in margin-negative and node-negative disease. These findings may suggest addition of RT into multimodality therapy for GBC.

Role of adjuvant radiotherapy in extrahepatic bile duct cancer: A multicenter retrospective study (Korean Radiation Oncology Group 18-14)

PURPOSE

To evaluate the role of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) after curative resection in patients with extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer.

METHODS

Between January 2000 and December 2015, 1475 patients with EHBD cancer who underwent curative resection were accrued from 14 institutions in Korea. Among these, 959 patients did not receive any adjuvant therapy (RT(-) group), while 516 underwent postoperative RT with or without chemotherapy (RT(+) group).

RESULTS

The median age was 67 years. Nodal involvement was present in 482 patients (32.7%), and resection margin was involved in 293 patients (19.9%). RT(+) group had more patients with proximal tumours, advanced tumours, nodal involvement, perineural invasion, and involved resection margin than RT(-) group (all p < 0.001). With a median follow-up of 36 months, there were 211 locoregional recurrences, 307 distant metastases and 322 combined locoregional and distant failures. On multivariate analysis incorporating age, tumour location, differentiation, pT classification, pN classification, perineural invasion and resection margin, adjuvant RT was associated with improved overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.86; p < 0.001). When RT(+) group was separated into RT alone, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and CCRT followed by chemotherapy, the greatest benefit was observed in patients treated with CCRT followed by chemotherapy (hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.68).

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant RT combined with chemotherapy improved survival outcomes of resected EHBD cancer patients. Considering the greatest benefit observed in patients receiving CCRT followed by chemotherapy, a randomised controlled trial comparing chemotherapy alone and CCRT followed by chemotherapy is urgently needed.

Laparoscopic Surgery for a Patient With Multiple Liver Metastases of Unknown Origin Concomitant With Gallbladder Tumor

BACKGROUND

The liver is the digestive organ where metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site is most often observed.

CASE REPORT

A 74-year-old man was diagnosed with a growing gallbladder tumor and multiple liver tumors limited to the left lateral sector. Liver tumors were suggested to be primary or secondary adenocarcinoma with no relation to the gallbladder tumor. Also for diagnostic purposes, laparoscopic full-thickness resection of the gallbladder, laparoscopic lateral sectionectomy and lymph node sampling were performed. The final histopathological diagnosis was hyperplastic polyp of the gallbladder and metastatic poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the liver. Liver tumors were suspected to originate from the stomach, duodenum, or small intestine; however, the primary sites could not be identified. The patient has been closely followed up without any chemotherapy 3 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery can be strongly recommended for patients with multiple liver tumors of unknown origin concomitant with a gallbladder tumor.

Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Quality Assessment-Based Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

The benefits of adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are uncertain largely because existing publications lack clear comparisons between ART and non-ART arms.

METHODS

PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched until December 2020. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Sensitivity analysis was performed for studies with reliable comparability (i.e., no favorable prognosticators in the ART arm that could skew the data).

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies involving 1,731 patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were reviewed. The overall median of all median prescribed doses was 50.4 Gy; brachytherapy or an intraoperative boost of 10-21 Gy was applied in 5 studies. The pooled 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates in the non-ART and ART arms were 69.2% versus 81.0%, p = 0.035; 34.3% versus 44.7%, p = 0.025; 25.6% versus 31.7%, p = 0.115, respectively. The corresponding pooled locoregional recurrence rates were 52.1% versus 34.9% (p = 0.014). The pooled rate of grade ≥3 gastrointestinal complications was 9.8%. Sensitivity analysis performed on 14 eligible studies showed that the ART arms had a lower pooled R0 rate (36.8% vs. 63.2%, p = 0.02) and a higher rate of positive lymph nodes (47.4% vs. 34.9%, p = 0.08). The pooled 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates in the non-ART versus ART arms of the selected studies were 78.2% versus 84.9%, p = 0.143; 38.5% versus 49.2%, p = 0.026; and 27.8% versus 34.5%, p = 0.11, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

ART was shown to improve OS in all studies and in those selected for their reliable comparability.

Biliary tract cancers: moving from the present standards of care towards the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are aggressive and chemoresistant tumors associated with poor prognosis. Thus, more active and effective treatments are urgently needed, among which immunotherapy holds promise for the near future. Preclinical data show that BTCs are mainly immunosuppressed cancers, thus suggesting that their immunogenic potential may be unleashed with the appropriate strategy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) could theoretically be effective in BTCs by blocking those inhibitory checkpoints that limit the activation and the expansion of the effector cells of the immune response. Many currently ongoing trials aim to demonstrate the efficacy of ICIs and to incorporate immunotherapy into the routine management of BTCs. Presently available results are controversial and there is no consensus on the role of ICIs in monotherapy, while combinations of immunotherapy with chemotherapy look more promising. Nevertheless, despite the many proposed over time, there are no predictive biomarkers presently available, thus, the early identification of those patients showing a good response is of great significance.

An Integrative Systems Biology Approach Identifies Molecular Signatures Associated with Gallbladder Cancer Pathogenesis

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) has a lower incidence rate among the population relative to other cancer types but is a major contributor to the total number of biliary tract system cancer cases. GBC is distinguished from other malignancies by its high mortality, marked geographical variation and poor prognosis. To date no systemic targeted therapy is available for GBC. The main objective of this study is to determine the molecular signatures correlated with GBC development using integrative systems level approaches. We performed analysis of publicly available transcriptomic data to identify differentially regulated genes and pathways. Differential co-expression network analysis and transcriptional regulatory network analysis was performed to identify hub genes and hub transcription factors (TFs) associated with GBC pathogenesis and progression. Subsequently, we assessed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) status of the hub genes using a combination of three scoring methods. The identified hub genes including, CDC6, MAPK15, CCNB2, BIRC7, L3MBTL1 were found to be regulators of cell cycle components which suggested their potential role in GBC pathogenesis and progression.

Examining the Use of Radiation Therapy for Cholangiocarcinoma: Benefits through Modern Techniques

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare malignant tumor of the bile duct epithelium. At first diagnosis, only a minority of patients are eligible for surgery, which is regarded as the only curative treatment. This study examines the role of radiation therapy (RT) and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in the definitive and adjuvant treatment situation.

METHODS

The monocentric, retrospective analysis included 39 patients with CCA undergoing 53 RT courses. Data were collected from January 2005 to September 2018. There were 11 cases of CRT, 6 of which were definitive. Surgery was either palliative (n = 6) or radical (n = 15).

RESULTS

After RT, the median overall survival (OS) was 10.4 months (m), median progression-free survival was 5.6 m, and median duration of local control (DOLC) was 8.9 m. There was a significant difference in survival between patients with and without locoregional lymph node metastasis (OS: 4.3 vs. 15.4 m, p = 0.031). After treatment of a primary tumor, DOLC was about twice as long as in the recurrent situation (10.4 vs. 5.4 m, p = 0.032). Conservative therapy significantly elevated the risk of local recurrence compared to radical surgery in univariate and multivariate analyses. Side effects were mostly classified as mild to moderate. Termination of RT and increased alanine aminotransferase were significantly less frequent after stereotactic body radiation therapy and hypofractionation.

CONCLUSION

RT can achieve local control in patients with CCA. Toxicities of RT are manageable but require close clinical and laboratory follow-up.

FGFR Inhibitors: Clinical Activity and Development in the Treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cholangiocarcinoma is an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis and limited treatment. Gene sequencing studies have identified genetic alterations in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) in a significant proportion of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients. This review will discuss the FGFR signaling pathway's role in CCA and highlight the development of therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway.

RECENT FINDINGS

The development of highly potent and selective FGFR inhibitors has led to the approval of pemigatinib for FGFR2 fusion or rearranged CCA. Other selective FGFR inhibitors are currently under clinical investigation and show promising activity. Despite encouraging results, the emergence of resistance is inevitable. Studies using circulating tumor DNA and on-treatment tissue biopsies have elucidated underlying mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance. There is a critical need to not only develop more effective compounds, but also innovative sequencing strategies and combinations to overcome resistance to selective FGFR inhibition. Therapeutic development of precision medicine for FGFR-altered CCA is a dynamic process of involving a comprehensive understanding of tumor biology, rational clinical trial design, and therapeutic optimization. Alterations in FGFR represent a valid therapeutic target in CCA and selective FGFR inhibitors are treatment options for this patient population.

Adjuvant Therapy in Resected Nonmetastatic Stage II-IV Gallbladder Cancer: A Generalized Propensity Score Analysis

BACKGROUND

The clinical benefits and efficacies of adjuvant therapies for gallbladder cancer (GBC) have not been verified due to insufficient clinical evidence.

METHODS

Patients with resected nonmetastatic stage II-IV GBC were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and distributed into nonchemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy (NCRT), chemotherapy (CT), and chemoradiotherapy (CRT) groups. Generalized propensity score and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were used to reduce the imbalances between groups.

RESULTS

A total of 2,689 patients were enrolled, among whom 1,193 (44.4%) were classified as stage II, 1,371 (51.0%) as stage III, and 125 (4.6%) as stage IV GBC. A total of 1,703, 444, and 542 patients were placed in the NCRT, CT, and CRT groups, respectively. After the IPTW, there were no significant differences in overall survival (OS) between the 3 treatment groups (p > 0.05) in stage II GBC patients. In patients with stage III-IV GBC, the CT group exhibited a superior OS compared to the NCRT group (p < 0.001). In addition, the CRT group exhibited a superior OS compared to the CT (p < 0.001) and NCRT (p < 0.001) groups. For patients with stage III-IV tumors, a nomogram was constructed to predict the survival benefits of adjuvant therapies.

CONCLUSION

Patients with stage II GBC may not benefit from adjuvant therapy, while patients with stage III-IV GBC were shown to benefit from chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy. Furthermore, chemoradiotherapy exhibited a superior OS. Nevertheless, the results need to be explained in the context of retrospective studies.

Eastern Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference 2019

The annual Eastern Canadian Gastrointestinal Cancer Consensus Conference 2019 was held in Morell, Prince Edward Island, 19-21 September 2019. Experts in medical oncology, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology who are involved in the management of patients with gastrointestinal malignancies participated in presentations and discussion sessions for the purpose of developing the recommendations presented here. This consensus statement addresses multiple topics in the management of anal, colorectal, biliary tract, and gastric cancers, including: radiotherapy and systemic therapy for localized and advanced anal cancer; watch and wait strategy for the management of rectal cancer; role of testing for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency prior to commencement of fluoropyrimidine therapy; radiotherapy and systemic therapy in the adjuvant and unresectable settings for biliary tract cancer; and radiotherapy and systemic therapy in the perioperative setting for early-stage gastric cancer.

Role of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy for resectable biliary tract cancer

Introduction: Although the safety of biliary tract cancer resection has improved over the years, the recurrence rate is still high, and the postoperative prognosis remains low after biliary tract cancer resection. Therefore, the development of effective adjuvant therapy is essential to improve treatment outcomes. Because biliary tract cancer is rare compared with other gastrointestinal cancers, there have been only a small number of clinical trials of adjuvant therapy. However, in recent years, the results of several large-scale randomized controlled trials have been published, and clinical trials investigating the efficacy of new regimens are currently ongoing.Areas covered: This review presents the results of previously published important phase II and III clinical trials of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy for biliary tract cancer and discusses their interpretation. The future direction of new research on resectable biliary tract cancer treatment is also discussed.Expert opinion: The foundations of large-scale clinical trials of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy for biliary tract cancer are underway, and new trials will establish evidence of their effectiveness. Additionally, breakthroughs in treatment through genetic and molecular research are expected.

Liver transplantation for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: patient selection and outcomes

Introduction: Peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma is an aggressive bile duct cancer. Long-term survival is possible with margin-negative surgery. Historically, unresectable disease was approached with non-curative treatment options. In recent decades, an innovative approach of neoadjuvant chemoradiation and liver transplantation has demonstrated long-term survival for highly selected patients.Areas covered: This is a critical analysis of studies published to date on neoadjuvant chemoradiation and liver transplantation for selected patients with peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma. A PubMed literature search was conducted for years 1970-2020 with the following search criteria: ['hilar' OR 'peri-hilar' AND 'cholangiocarcinoma'] AND ['treatment' OR 'transplantation' OR 'survival' OR 'outcome']; 'neoadjuvant chemoradiation' AND 'unresectable cholangiocarcinoma'. All peer-reviewed original research studies were selected for review.Expert opinion: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation and liver transplantation for patients with early stage unresectable peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma can achieve long-term survival in highly selected patients who survive to transplantation without disease progression. There are observed differences in survival for patients with PSC-associated versus de novo cholangiocarcinoma and transplanted versus resected patients; however, these differences are not contextualized by established tumor and patient factors that influence recurrence and survival. Therefore, these results must be interpreted within the limitations of the study designs upon which they are based.

SEOM clinical guidelines for pancreatic and biliary tract cancer (2020)

Pancreatic cancer (PC) and biliary tract cancer (BTC) are both aggressive and highly fatal malignancies. Nowadays we have a profound knowledge about the molecular landscape of these neoplasms and this has allowed new therapeutic options. Surgery is the only potentially curative therapy in both cancers, but disease recurrence is frequent. In PC, adjuvant treatment with mFOLFIRINOX has improved overall survival (OS) and in BTC adjuvant treatment with capecitabine seems to improve OS and relapse-free survival. Concomitant radio-chemotherapy could also be considered following R1 surgery in both neoplasms. Neoadjuvant treatment represents the best option for achieving an R0 resection in borderline PC. Upfront systemic chemotherapy is the treatment of choice in unresectable locally advanced PC and BTC; then locoregional therapy could be considered after an initial period of at least 3-4 months of systemic chemotherapy. In metastatic PC, FOLFIRINOX or Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel have improved OS compared with gemcitabine alone. In metastatic BTC, cisplatin plus gemcitabine constitute the standard treatment. Progress in the knowledge of molecular biology has enabled the identification of new targets for therapy with encouraging results that could in the future improve the survival and quality of life of patients with PC and BTC.

Pitfalls, challenges, and updates in adjuvant systemic treatment for resected biliary tract cancer

Introduction: Unfortunately, potentially curative surgical resection is possible in approximately the 25% of biliary tract cancer (BTC) patients at diagnosis, and even following radical surgery, relapse rates remain high. Thus, the role of adjuvant systemic treatment has been widely explored in this setting over the last decades, with the hope of lowering recurrence rates and improving outcomes of BTC patients.Areas covered: In this review, we provide an overview of available evidence regarding adjuvant systemic therapy in resected BTC, critically discussing the pros and cons of recently published clinical trials such as the BILCAP, the BCAT, and the PRODIGE-12/ACCORD-18 phase III studies.Expert opinion: Although the BILCAP trial has established adjuvant capecitabine for 6 months following radical resection as a novel standard of care, the role of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy is the object of debate and controversy in the BTC medical community. Although most of the international guidelines on BTC management have not yet been updated, the recently published ASCO guidelines support the use of capecitabine in this setting. Several phase I to III clinical trials are currently evaluating the role of novel therapeutic approaches in patients with resected BTC, and the results of these studies are highly awaited.

Ivosidenib: an investigational drug for the treatment of biliary tract cancers

Introduction: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) [including cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer] are rare cancers associated with poor survival; most patients have advanced disease at diagnosis. Current chemotherapy reference regimens include cisplatin and gemcitabine as first-line; and oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil (FOLFOX) in second-line. Molecular profiling has identified several actionable therapeutic targets including isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1 mutations. Ivosidenib is a reversible inhibitor of mutant IDH1; it is currently approved for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and has been studied in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma.Areas covered: This article introduces current treatments for BTC and sheds light on the mechanism of action, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety of ivosidenib in advanced cholangiocarcinoma. The authors conclude with insights on the changing treatment paradigm created by emerging drugs and precision approaches.Expert opinion: Ivosidenib is well tolerated, with good oral exposure and long half-life as shown by phase I data. In a phase III study, ivosidenib has demonstrated improved progression-free survival compared to placebo (median 2.7 vs 1.4 months; hazard ratio 0.37; 95% confidence interval 0.25-0.54; one-sided p < 0.0001); it has also demonstrated a trend toward increased overall survival in patients with cholangiocarcinoma and disease progression on prior chemotherapy. Final survival data from this study are pending presentation. Increased use of molecular profiling will continue to identify potential therapeutic targets and improve the prognosis of patients with these cancers.

Development, Practice Patterns, and Early Clinical Outcomes of a Multidisciplinary Liver Cancer Clinic

Multidisciplinary care has been associated with improved survival in patients with primary liver cancers. We report the practice patterns and real world clinical outcomes for patients presenting to the Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) multidisciplinary liver clinic (MDLC). We analyzed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n = 100) and biliary tract cancer (BTC, n = 76) patients evaluated at the JHH MDLC in 2019. We describe the conduct of the clinic, consensus decisions for patient management based on stage categories, and describe treatment approaches and outcomes based on these categories. We describe subclassification of BCLC stage C into 2 parts, and subclassification of cholangiocarcinoma into 4 stages. A treatment consensus was finalized on the day of MDLC for the majority of patients (89% in HCC, 87% in BTC), with high adherence to MDLC recommendations (91% in HCC, 100% in BTC). Among patients presenting for a second opinion regarding management, 28% of HCC and 31% of BTC patients were given new therapeutic recommendations. For HCC patients, at a median follow up of 11.7 months (0.7-19.4 months), median OS was not reached in BCLC A and B patients. In BTC patients, at a median follow up of 14.2 months (0.9-21.1 months) the median OS was not reached in patients with resectable or borderline resectable disease, and was 11.9 months in patients with unresectable or metastatic disease. Coordinated expert multidisciplinary care is feasible for primary liver cancers with high adherence to recommendations and a change in treatment for a sizeable minority of patients.

The Landmark Series: Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) is a rare and highly aggressive biliary tract neoplasm. As such, the data driving the management of this disease generally are not based on prospective clinical trial data but rather consist of retrospective experiences and limited level 1 data. Surgical resection offers the best chance of a long-term survival, but local and distant recurrences are common. This report presents landmark articles that form the basis of preoperative, operative, and adjuvant strategies for HC.

Current Status and Future Perspectives of Perioperative Therapy for Resectable Biliary Tract Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Review

Simple Summary

For decades, there has been no globally accepted neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy in resectable biliary tract cancer. Based on the results of the BILCAP trial, adjuvant capecitabine has been widely regarded as standard adjuvant therapy. Focusing on the management of resectable biliary tract cancer, this article reviews each therapeutic strategy including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and summarises published and ongoing clinical trials of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy.

Abstract

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a group of aggressive malignancies that arise from the bile duct and gallbladder. BTCs include intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IH-CCA), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EH-CCA), and gallbladder cancer (GBCA). BTCs are highly heterogeneous cancers in terms of anatomical, clinical, and pathological characteristics. Until recently, the treatment of resectable BTC, including surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, has largely been based on institutional practice guidelines and evidence from small retrospective studies. Recently, several large randomized prospective trials have been published, and there are ongoing randomized trials for resectable BTC. In this article, we review prior and recently updated evidence regarding surgery, adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and adjuvant radiation therapy for patients with resectable BTC.

Bioinformatics analysis identified CDC20 as a potential drug target for cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignancy that originates from bile duct cells. The incidence and mortality of CCA are very high especially in Southeast Asian countries. Moreover, most CCA patients have a very poor outcome. Presently, there are still no effective treatment regimens for CCA. The resistance to several standard chemotherapy drugs occurs frequently; thus, searching for a novel effective treatment for CCA is urgently needed.

METHODS

In this study, comprehensive bioinformatics analyses for identification of novel target genes for CCA therapy based on three microarray gene expression profiles (GSE26566, GSE32225 and GSE76297) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were performed. Based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs), gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were performed. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) and hub gene identifications were analyzed using STRING and Cytoscape software. Then, the expression of candidate genes from bioinformatics analysis was measured in CCA cell lines using real time PCR. Finally, the anti-tumor activity of specific inhibitor against candidate genes were investigated in CCA cell lines cultured under 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional cell culture models.

RESULTS

The three microarray datasets exhibited an intersection consisting of 226 DEGs (124 up-regulated and 102 down-regulated genes) in CCA. DEGs were significantly enriched in cell cycle, hemostasis and metabolism pathways according to Reactome pathway analysis. In addition, 20 potential hub genes in CCA were identified using the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and sub-PPI network analysis. Subsequently, CDC20 was identified as a potential novel targeted drug for CCA based on a drug prioritizing program. In addition, the anti-tumor activity of a potential CDC20 inhibitor, namely dinaciclib, was investigated in CCA cell lines. Dinaciclib demonstrated huge anti-tumor activity better than gemcitabine, the standard chemotherapeutic drug for CCA.

CONCLUSION

Using integrated bioinformatics analysis, CDC20 was identified as a novel candidate therapeutic target for CCA.

Recent advances in understanding cholangiocarcinoma

The definition of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) encompasses all tumors originating in the epithelium of the bile ducts, including the intrahepatic bile ducts (ICCA) and extrahepatic bile ducts (ECCA). The incidence of ICCA and ECCA has increased in the last few decades, and molecular advances in both entities have brought understanding of their differences and allowed treatment advances aimed at personalized therapy. In this review, we discuss recent progress in the molecular landscape of CCAs, emerging treatment biomarker-guided strategies, and future insights into the management of advanced disease.

Conditional Recurrence-Free Survival after Oncologic Extended Resection for Gallbladder Cancer: An International Multicenter Analysis

BACKGROUND

Data to guide surveillance following oncologic extended resection (OER) for gallbladder cancer (GBC) are lacking. Conditional recurrence-free survival (C-RFS) can inform surveillance. We aimed to estimate C-RFS and identify factors affecting conditional RFS after OER for GBC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with ≥ T1b GBC who underwent curative-intent surgery in 2000-2018 at four countries were identified. Risk factors for recurrence and RFS were evaluated at initial resection in all patients and at 12 and 24 months after resection in patients remaining recurrence-free.

RESULTS

Of the 1071 patients who underwent OER, 484 met the inclusion criteria; 290 (60%) were recurrence-free at 12 months, and 199 (41%) were recurrence-free at 24 months. Median follow-up was 24.5 months for all patients and 47.21 months in survivors at analysis. Five-year RFS rates were 47% for the overall population, 71% for patients recurrence-free at 12 months, and 87% for the patients without recurrence at 24 months. In the entire cohort, the risk of recurrence peaked at 8 months. T3-T4 disease was independently associated with recurrence in all groups: entire cohort [hazard ratio (HR) 2.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49-3.13, P < 0.001], 12-month recurrence-free (HR 3.42, 95% CI 1.88-6.23, P < 0.001), and 24-month recurrence-free (HR 2.71, 95% CI 1.11-6.62, P = 0.029). Of the 125 patients without these risk factors, only 2 had recurrence after 36 months.

CONCLUSION

C-RFS improves over time, and only T3-T4 disease remains a risk factor for recurrence at 24 months after OER for GBC. For all recurrence-free survivors after 36 months, the probability of recurrence is similar regardless of T category or disease stage.

The Clinical Management of Cholangiocarcinoma in the United States and Europe: A Comprehensive and Evidence-Based Comparison of Guidelines

BACKGROUND

The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma has doubled over the last 15 years with a similar rise in mortality, which provides the impetus for standardization of evidence-based care through the establishment of guidelines.

METHODS

We compared available guidelines on the clinical management of cholangiocarcinoma in the United States and Europe, which included the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and the International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) guidelines.

RESULTS

There is discordance in the recommendation for biopsy in patients with potentially resectable cholangiocarcinoma and in the recommendation for use of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans. Similarly, the recommendation for preoperative biliary drainage for extrahepatic and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma in the setting of jaundice is inconsistent across all four guidelines. The BILCAP (capecitabine) and ABC-02 trials (gemcitabine with cisplatin) have provided the strongest evidence for systemic therapy in the adjuvant and palliative settings, respectively, but all guidelines have refrained from setting them as standard of care, given heterogeneity in the study cohorts and ABC-02's negative intention-to-treat results.

CONCLUSIONS

Future progress in enhancing survivorship of patients with cholangiocarcinoma would likely entail improvements in diagnostic biomarkers and novel systemic therapies. Based on recent results from studies of targeted therapy, future iterations of the guidelines will likely incorporate molecular profiling.

Outcomes in older patients with biliary tract cancer

The majority of patients diagnosed with cancer are ≥65 years. However, inclusion of older patients with cancer in clinical trials is limited, and so there is less evidence to guide systemic therapeutic decisions in these patients. There is also debate surrounding the definition of "older patients". Additionally, comorbidities, as well as life expectancy will influence compliance to any treatment, and physicians may favour less intense regimens for these patients or best supportive care alone. In patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC), surgery followed by adjuvant capecitabine (BILCAP phase 3 trial) is the only potentially curative option, but patients often present with advanced disease, and palliative systemic treatment is given. The availability of novel targeted therapies (oral and monotherapy) in selected populations of patients with BTC may increase the therapeutic artillery for these older patients. Trials to date in patients with BTC have not been age-specific and have not always included age subgroup analysis, and so the evidence to support treatment of older patients is derived via extrapolation, primarily, with only 35% being >60 years in the adjuvant BILCAP study, for example. When this evidence is provided, treated patients tend to gain equivalent survival benefit, irrespective of age. A comprehensive clinical geriatric assessment is recommended. Revision of existing BTC treatment guidelines should incorporate some reference to best practice in older patients with BTC. Observational data may also provide valuable insights in this population. Age sub-group analysis should be encouraged in prospective clinical trials including patients with BTC, with age-specific trials favoured.

Adjuvant systemic treatment in resected biliary tract cancer: State of the art, controversies, and future directions

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) includes a heterogeneous group of aggressive malignancies comprising gallbladder cancer (GBC), ampulla of Vater cancer (AVC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA). Unfortunately, potentially curative resection is possible in approximately the 25% of presenting patients, and relapse rates are high, with a notable proportion of BTCs experiencing disease recurrence. Recent years have seen the publication of several prospective clinical trials evaluating the role of adjuvant systemic treatments, and among these, the phase III BILCAP study provided evidence supporting the use of capecitabine after radical surgery in BTC patients; in fact, although the study failed to meet its primary endpoint, the capecitabine arm showed improved clinical outcomes in terms of overall survival (pre-planned sensitivity analysis in the intention-to-treat population and in the per-protocol analysis) and relapse-free survival. However, the BILCAP has been widely criticized, with several authors that have not accepted adjuvant capecitabine as novel standard of care. In this review, we summarize current state of the art regarding adjuvant systemic treatment in BTC, highlighting advantages and disadvantages of recent clinical trials, and suggesting new research directions in this setting.

Undertreatment of Gallbladder Cancer: A Nationwide Analysis

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder cancer has a high mortality rate and an increasing incidence. The current National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend resection for all T1b and higher-stage cancers. This study aimed to evaluate re-resection rates and the associated survival impact for patients with gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

Patients with gallbladder adenocarcinoma who underwent resection were identified from the National Cancer Database (2004-2015). Re-resection was defined as definitive surgery within 180 days after the first operation. Propensity scores were created for the odds of a patient having a re-resection. Patients were matched 1:2. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard methods.

RESULTS

The study identified 6175 patients, and 466 of these patients (7.6%) underwent re-resection. Re-resection was associated with younger median age (65 vs 72 years; p < 0.0001), private insurance (41.6% vs 27.1%; p < 0.0001), academic centers (50.4% vs 29.7%; p < 0.0001), and treatment location in the Northeast (22.8% vs 20.4%; p = 0.0011). Compared with no re-resection, re-resection was associated with pT stage (pT2: 47.6% vs 42.8%; p = 0.0139) and pN stage (pN1-2: 28.1% vs 20.7%; p < 0.0001), negative margins on final pathology (90.1% vs 72.6%; p < 0.0001), and receipt of chemotherapy (53.7% vs 35.8%; p < 0.0001). The patients who underwent re-resection demonstrated significantly longer overall survival (OS) than the patients who did not undergo re-resection (median OS, 44.0 vs 23.0 months; p < 0.0001). After propensity score-matching, re-resection remained associated with superior survival (median OS, 44.0 vs 31.0 months; p = 0.0004).

CONCLUSIONS

Re-resection for gallbladder cancer is associated with improved survival but remains underused, particularly for early-stage disease.

Rates, Predictors, and Outcomes of Portal Lymphadenectomy for Resectable Gallbladder Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Lymphadenectomy (LND) is recommended following surgical resection of ≥ T1b gallbladder cancer (GBC). However, frequency and stage-specific survival benefits of LND remain unclear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The National Cancer Database (NCDB; 2006-15) was queried for resected pathologic stage I-III GBC. LND performance, predictors of receiving LND, and LND association with overall survival (OS) were assessed.

RESULTS

Of 2302 total patients, 1343 (58.3%) underwent LND. Patients who underwent LND were younger and more frequently had private health insurance, a negative surgical margin, higher pathologic T stage, and received adjuvant chemotherapy (all p < 0.001). LND rates were highest at academic centers (70.1%) relative to all other facility types (p < 0.001). LND was independently associated with improved OS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44-0.61]. LND was associated with improved OS for pT1b, pT2, and pT3 patients (all p < 0.05) on univariate analysis. LND was independently associated with improved OS in pT2 (HR 0.44, CI 0.35-0.56) and pT3 (HR 0.54, CI 0.43-0.69) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

LND is associated with a 48% reduction in risk of death in patients with resectable non-metastatic GBC, with greatest impact in pT2-3 patients. Patients without LND have similar OS to patients with node-positive disease, highlighting the importance of LND. Underutilization of LND likely results in undertreatment of patients with undiagnosed nodal disease, which may contribute to unfavorable oncologic outcomes.

Biliary tract cancer

Biliary tract cancers, including intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal cholangiocarcinoma as well as gallbladder cancer, are low-incidence malignancies in most high-income countries, but represent a major health problem in endemic areas; moreover, the incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is rising globally. Surgery is the cornerstone of cure; the optimal approach depends on the anatomical site of the primary tumour and the best outcomes are achieved through management by specialist multidisciplinary teams. Unfortunately, most patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Most studies in advanced disease have pooled the various subtypes of biliary tract cancer by necessity to achieve adequate sample sizes; however, differences in epidemiology, clinical presentation, natural history, surgical therapy, response to treatment, and prognosis have long been recognised. Additionally, the identification of distinct patient subgroups harbouring unique molecular alterations with corresponding targeted therapies (such as isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 mutations and fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 fusions in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, among others) is changing the treatment paradigm. In this Seminar we present an update of the causes, diagnosis, molecular classification, and treatment of biliary tract cancer.

Radiation treatment for adult rare cancers: Oldest and newest indication

AIM

Aim of this analysis is to review the role of RT in the management of several rare tumors for adult patients.

METHODS

Collection data regarding RT and rare tumors was made by Pubmed.

RESULTS

For mucosal melanomas, RT is prescribed, being associated with lower local recurrence rate. For trachea tumors, RT was used as adjuvant or salvage treatment for unresectable disease. For pNET, RT can be a suitable option for post-surgical or unresectable/borderline. For bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine tumors the role of adjuvant treatments is uncertain. For hepatobiliary and ovarian malignancy, stereotactic body RT (SBRT) is a promising approach. For soft tissue sarcoma, perioperative treatments are indicated, and a growing role of SBRT in oligometastatic disease is recognized. For endocrine tumors, adjuvant RT has demonstrated benefits through reducing recurrence risk.

CONCLUSION

The radiotherapy is a frequent indication in adult rare cancers; thus the role of Radiation Oncologist must not be neglected.

Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy offer a recurrence and survival benefit in patients with resected perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to investigate the benefits of adjuvant treatment for patients with resected perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC).

METHODS

Between 2001 and 2017, 196 patients with PHC adenocarcinoma underwent curative resection. The patients were divided into four groups according to adjuvant treatment type: surgery alone (S; N = 90), surgery with chemotherapy (S+CTx; N = 67), surgery with radiotherapy (S+RTx; N = 18), and surgery with chemoradiotherapy (S+ CRTx; N = 21).

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration of the surviving patients was 58 months. The 5-year rate of overall survival (OS) was 32%. In multivariate analysis, receiving S+CTx and S+CRTx were significant prognostic factors for OS. In subgroup analyses of the R1 resection patients, the S+CRTx group showed better OS than the S group (p < 0.05). In subgroup analyses of the stage III-IVA patients with a negative resection margin, the S+CTx and S+CRTx groups showed superior OS than the S group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that adjuvant chemoradiotherapy might be considered for PHC patients with R1 resection. Adjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy is suggested for stage III-IVA patients with R0 resection. The results of this study require validation through further prospective studies.

Chemoradiotherapy for patients with locally advanced or unresectable extra-hepatic biliary cancer

Background

Although surgical resection is the preferred curative-intent treatment option for patients with non-metastatic, extra-hepatic biliary cancer (EBC), radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) may be utilized in select cases when surgical resection is not feasible. The purpose of this study is to report the efficacy and adverse events (AEs) associated with CRT for patients with locally advanced and unresectable EBC.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with EBC, including extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder cancer, deemed inoperable who received RT between 1998 and 2018. The median RT dose was 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions and 94% received concurrent 5-fluorouracil. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) from the start of RT. The cumulative incidence of local progression (LP), locoregional progression (LRP), and distant metastasis (DM) were reported with death as a competing risk. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess for correlation between patient and treatment characteristics and outcomes.

Results

Forty-eight patients were included for analysis. The median OS was 12.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3-73.2 months]. The 2-, 3-, and 5-year OS were 33% (95% CI: 22-50%), 20% (95% CI: 11-36%), and 7% (95% CI: 2-20%), respectively. The 2-year PFS, LP, LRP, and DM were 21% (95% CI: 12-36%), 27% (95% CI: 17-44%), 31% (95% CI: 20-48%), and 33% (95% CI: 22-50%), respectively. On univariate analysis, biologically effective dose (BED) >59.5 Gy₁₀ was associated with improved OS [hazard ratio (HR): 0.40, 95% CI: 0.18-0.92, P=0.03] and PFS (HR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.16-0.84, P=0.02) and primary tumor size (per 1 cm increase) was associated with worsened PFS (HR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.02-1.63, P=0.04). BED >59.5 Gy₁₀ remained associated with PFS on multivariate analysis (HR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.15-0.78, P=0.01). Treatment-related grade 3+ acute and late gastrointestinal AEs occurred in 13% and 17% of patients, respectively.

Conclusions

RT is associated with 3- and 5-year survival in a subset of patients with unresectable EBC. Further exploration of the role of RT as part of a multi-modality curative treatment strategy is warranted.

[Intra and extra hepatic cholangiocarcinomas radiation therapy]

Cholangiocarcinomas are digestive tumors whose incidence remains low and have poor prognosis. The benefits of adjuvant radiochemotherapy and radiotherapy have never been demonstrated in any phase III randomized controlled trial. Chemotherapy with capecitabine 6 months is the standard of care in adjuvant setting. Radiochemotherapy is validated in R1 patients. It is not recommended in neoadjuvant situations given the lack of evidence. Chemotherapy and radiochemotherapy are validated in adjuvant or locally advanced diseases. Stereotactic radiation therapy offers an interesting perspective, at the cost of significant digestive toxicities, requiring evaluation in randomized trials.

Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy for biliary tract cancer: a review of clinical trials

Cancer originating in the biliary tract can be classified as bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), gallbladder cancer, or ampullary cancer. Bile duct cancer is further divided to intrahepatic, perihilar and distal bile duct subtypes according to the anatomical location of the tumor. The biological characteristics of each tumor are heterogeneous. However, because of the rarity of each disease, the efficacy of new drugs has been tested in groups of patients with different biliary tract cancers. In patients with metastatic or recurrent biliary tract cancer, recent randomized clinical trials revealed the non-inferiority of gemcitabine + S-1 and the superiority of gemcitabine + cisplatin + S-1 compared with gemcitabine + cisplatin in terms of overall survival, thereby establishing a new standard treatment. In the field of adjuvant therapy for biliary tract cancer, the British BILCAP (capecitabine compared with observation in resected biliary tract cancer) study revealed longer median overall survival in the capecitabine group than in the observation group in the per-protocol analysis (but not in the intention-to-treat analysis), bringing a shift toward postoperative management. Several other studies of adjuvant therapy are ongoing, and they may lead to reforms in treatment strategy for resectable biliary tract cancer in the future. The use of neoadjuvant therapy for biliary tract cancer is in its infancy, but it is expected to overcome the limitations of adjuvant therapy for this malignancy. In this review, we summarized the evidence available from clinical trials of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy for biliary tract cancer and described ongoing clinical trials.

The Evolving Role of Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer

Biliary tract cancers (BTC) are a disease entity comprising diverse epithelial tumors, which are categorized according to their anatomical location as intrahepatic (iCCA), perihilar (pCCA), distal (dCCA) cholangiocarcinomas, and gallbladder carcinomas (GBC), with distinct epidemiology, biology, and prognosis. Complete surgical resection is the mainstay in operable BTC as it is the only potentially curative treatment option. Nevertheless, even after curative (R0) resection, the 5-year survival rate ranges between 20 and 40% and the disease free survival rates (DFS) is approximately 48–65% after one year and 23–35% after three years without adjuvant treatment. Improvements in adjuvant chemotherapy have improved the DFS, but the role of adjuvant radiotherapy is unclear. On the other hand, more than 50% of the patients present with unresectable disease at the time of diagnosis, which limits the prognosis to a few months without treatment. Herein, we review the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma in the curative and palliative setting.

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of biliary tract cancers 2019: The 3rd English edition

BACKGROUND

The Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery launched the clinical practice guidelines for the management of biliary tract cancers (cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, and ampullary cancer) in 2007, then published the 2nd version in 2014.

METHODS

In this 3rd version, clinical questions (CQs) were proposed on six topics. The recommendation, grade for recommendation, and statement for each CQ were discussed and finalized by an evidence-based approach. Recommendations were graded as Grade 1 (strong) or Grade 2 (weak) according to the concepts of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system.

RESULTS

The 31 CQs covered the six topics: (a) prophylactic treatment, (b) diagnosis, (c) biliary drainage, (d) surgical treatment, (e) chemotherapy, and (f) radiation therapy. In the 31 CQs, 14 recommendations were rated strong and 14 recommendations weak. The remaining three CQs had no recommendation. Each CQ includes a statement of how the recommendations were graded.

CONCLUSIONS

This latest guideline provides recommendations for important clinical aspects based on evidence. Future collaboration with the cancer registry will be key for assessing the guidelines and establishing new evidence.

Effect of Margin Status on Survival After Resection of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma in the Modern Era of Adjuvant Therapies

INTRODUCTION

Studies have shown that for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC), survival is associated with negative resection margins (R0). This requires increasingly proximal resection, putting patients at higher risk for complications, which may delay chemotherapy. For patients with microscopically positive resection margins (R1), the use of modern adjuvant therapies may offset the effect of R1 resection.

METHODS

Patients at our institution with HC undergoing curative-intent resection between January 2008 and July 2019 were identified by retrospective record review. Demographic data, operative details, tumor characteristics, postoperative outcomes, recurrence, survival, and follow-up were recorded. Patients with R0 margin were compared to those with R1 margin. Patients with R2 resection were excluded.

RESULTS

Seventy-five patients underwent attempted resection with 34 (45.3%) cases aborted due to metastatic disease or locally advanced disease. Forty-one (54.7%) patients underwent curative-intent resection with R1 rate of 43.9%. Both groups had similar rates of adjuvant therapy (56.5% vs. 61.1%, P = .7672). Complication rates and 30 mortality were similar between groups (all P > .05). Both groups had similar median recurrence-free survival (R0 29.2 months vs. R1 27.8 months, P = .540) and median overall survival (R0 31.2 months vs. R1 38.8 months, P = .736) with similar median follow-up time (R0 29.9 months vs. R1 28.5 months, P = .8864).

CONCLUSIONS

At our institution, patients undergoing hepatic resection for HC with R1 margins have similar recurrence-free and overall survival to those with R0 margins. Complications and short-term mortality were similar. This may indicate that with use of modern adjuvant therapies obtaining an R0 resection is not an absolute mandate.

The Efficacy of Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Early-Stage Gallbladder Adenocarcinoma Depends on the Tumor Invasion Depth and Differentiation Level

BACKGROUND

Although the performance of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (ACRT) for resected gallbladder cancer may improve the survival for certain patients, its impact on the survival in early-stage resected gallbladder adenocarcinoma (GBAC) patients remains underexplored. This study aimed to determine the ACRT effects on the survival of early-stage resected GBAC patients.

METHODS

Patients with early-stage resected GBAC diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The covariables included gender, age, race, tumor differentiation, TNM stage (AJCC TNM staging system, 7th edition), adjuvant radiotherapy (ART), and adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). The effects of ACRT on survival were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1,586 patients with resected GBAC met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. Patients who received ACT were older, with poorer tumor differentiation or higher TNM stage (all p < 0.05), while patients who underwent ART were proved to be significantly correlated with poorer tumor differentiation (p = 0.010) and higher TNM stage (p < 0.001). Univariate and multivariate analysis of overall survival (OS) showed that age (p < 0.001; HR, 2.039; 95% CI, 1.718-2.420), tumor grade (p < 0.001; HR, 1.887; 95% CI, 1.530-2.370), and AJCC 7th TNM stage (p < 0.001; HR, 1.417; 95% CI, 1.182-1.699) were independent prognostic risk factors. Interestingly, ART and ACT were not independently associated with improved OS in the overall cohort analysis. However, when patients were subgrouped according to tumor differentiation, ART (p = 0.049; HR, 0.639; 95% CI, 0.409-0.999) has been identified as a significant prognostic factor for grade III/IV patients. Meanwhile, ARC (p = 0.011; HR, 0.739; 95% CI, 0.586-0.932) was associated with improved OS among tumor stage II patients (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

ACRT may have specific survival benefits for early-stage resected GBAC patients. ART can improve survival in patients with poor or absent tumor differentiation. Besides, patients with tumor invasion beyond muscularis (stage II tumor) may benefit from ACT. Our study provides supporting evidence for the clinical applications of ACRT in early-stage GBAC patients.

Survival benefit with adjuvant radiotherapy after resection of distal cholangiocarcinoma: A propensity-matched National Cancer Database analysis

BACKGROUND

No convincing evidence for the benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) following resection of distal cholangiocarcinoma (dCCA) exists, especially for lower-risk (margin- or node-negative) disease. Hence, the association of adjuvant RT on survival after surgical resection of dCCA was compared with no adjuvant RT (noRT).

METHODS

Using National Cancer Database data from 2004 to 2016, patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy for nonmetastatic dCCA were identified. Patients with neoadjuvant RT and chemotherapy and survival <6 months were excluded. Propensity score matching was used to account for treatment-selection bias. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was then used to analyze the association of adjuvant RT with survival.

RESULTS

Of 2162 (34%) adjuvant RT and 4155 (66%) noRT patients, 1509 adjuvant RT and 1509 noRT patients remained in the cohort after matching. The rates of node-negative disease (N0), node-positive disease (N+), and unknown node status (Nx) were 39%, 51%, and 10%, respectively. After matching, adjuvant RT was associated with improved survival (median, 29.3 vs 26.8 months; P < .001), which remained after multivariable adjustment (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.80-0.93; P < .001). Multivariable interaction analyses showed this benefit was seen irrespective of nodal status (N0: HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.66-0.89; P < .001; N+: HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.71-0.89; P < .001) and margin status (R0: HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.50-0.67; P < .001; R1: HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.96; P = .007). Stratified analyses by nodal and margin status demonstrated consistent results.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant RT after dCCA resection was associated with a survival benefit in patients, even in patients with margin- or node-negative resections. Adjuvant RT should be considered routinely irrespective of margin and nodal status after resection for dCCA.

LAY SUMMARY

Adjuvant radiotherapy after resection of distal cholangiocarcinoma was associated with a survival benefit in patients, even in patients with margin-negative or node-negative resections. Adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered routinely irrespective of margin and nodal status after resection of distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Italian Clinical Practice Guidelines on Cholangiocarcinoma - Part II: Treatment

Currently, the only curative treatment for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is surgical resection, though this treatment is possible in less than 40% of patients. However, recent improvements in preoperative management have led to a higher number of patients who are candidates for this procedure. For unresectable patients, progress is ongoing in terms of locoregional and chemoradiation treatments and target therapies, especially in the definition of patient selection criteria. This is the second part of the Italian CCA guidelines, dealing with CCA treatment, that have been formulated in accordance with Italian National Institute of Health indications and developed according to the GRADE method and related advancements.

Real world clinical outcomes of adjuvant sequential chemoradiation in patients with gallbladder carcinomas with poor performance status

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study is to analyze the overall survival, relapse-free survival, and relapse patterns of adjuvant sequential chemoradiation for gallbladder cancers after curative resection in patients with poor performance status.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of gallbladder patients with pathologic stage T2-4 or node positivity treated with sequential chemoradiation at our institute between January 2015 and January 2019. Sequential chemoradiotherapy protocol consisted of six cycles of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 and oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2 administered every 2 weekly and postoperative radiation therapy (45 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks) by three-dimensional conformal technique.

RESULTS

A total of 36 patients were included. The median overall survival and relapse-free survival was 26 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.4-30.5) and 21 months (95% CI, 11.8-30.1), respectively. The 2-year overall and relapse-free survival rates were 55.1% (95% CI, 37.9%-72.3%) and 44.7% (95% CI, 27.5%-61.9%), respectively. Locoregional, systemic, and combined recurrence were noted in 2 (5.5%), 14 (38.8%), and 3 (8.3%) patients, respectively. On univariate analysis, tumour grading significantly influenced relapse free survival; nodal stage and overall stage demonstrated a statistically significant influence on overall survival (p < 0.05) with a trend towards significance for lymphovascular invasion. On multivariate analysis, no significant factors were found. Grade 3 and 4 haematological adverse events were observed only in 2 (5.5%) with chemotherapy. No grade 3 and 4 adverse events were observed due to radiation therapy.

CONCLUSION

Sequential chemoradiation is feasible and tolerable with acceptable efficacy in the adjuvant setting in patients unfit for concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Prognostic Significance of Tumor Location in T2 Gallbladder Cancer: A Korea Tumor Registry System Biliary Pancreas (KOTUS-BP) Database Analysis

Background: T2 gallbladder cancer (GBC) is subdivided into T2a and T2b by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition. However; there is a lack of evidence for the prognostic significance of tumor location and validation with large-scale studies is needed. The aims of this study were to investigate the clinical features and clinical outcomes of T2 GBC according to tumor location and determine the prognostic significance of tumor location and an appropriate surgical strategy. Methods: Between 2000 and 2014 the Korea Tumor Registry System Biliary Pancreas (KOTUS-BP) database was used to identify and enroll a total 707 patients with pathologically diagnosed T2 GBC who underwent curative resection. Clinicopathological findings and long-term follow-up results were analyzed. Results: The incidence of lymph node metastasis in T2b was significantly higher than that of T2a tumors (37.9% vs. 29.5%, p = 0.032). The 5-year disease-specific survival of T2a was better than that of T2b tumors (74.8% vs. 65.4%, p = 0.019). There was no significant survival difference in T2a between extended cholecystectomy and simple cholecystectomy with lymph node dissection (81.8% vs. 73.7%, p = 0.361). However; there was a better survival trend for T2b tumor after extended cholecystectomy (71.7% vs. 59.3%, p = 0.057). Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with improved survival for patients with lymph node metastasis in T2a (72.1% vs. 56.9; p = 0.022) and in T2b (68.2 vs. 48.5; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis was the only significant poor prognostic factor (Hazard ratio 3.222; 95% confidential interval 1.960–4.489; p < 0.001). Conclusions: For T2 GBC; tumor location was not an independent prognostic factor. Lymph node metastasis was a significant poor prognostic factor and adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered for the patients with lymph node metastasis.

Overview of current targeted therapy in gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is rare, but is the most malignant type of biliary tract tumor. Unfortunately, only a small population of cancer patients is acceptable for the surgical resection, the current effective regimen; thus, the high mortality rate has been static for decades. To substantially circumvent the stagnant scenario, a number of therapeutic approaches owing to the creation of advanced technologic measures (e.g., next-generation sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics) have been intensively innovated, which include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and nanoparticle-based delivery systems. In the current review, we primarily focus on the targeted therapy capable of specifically inhibiting individual key molecules that govern aberrant signaling cascades in GBC. Global clinical trials of targeted therapy in GBC are updated and may offer great value for novel pathologic and therapeutic insights of this deadly disease, ultimately improving the efficacy of treatment.

Relevant Clinical Trials for GI Surgeons: a Review of Recent Findings

Over the last decade, a number of practice-changing clinical trials have been published to guide the management of esophageal, gastric, liver, pancreas, appendiceal, and colorectal pathologies. The following review aims to provide a succinct summary of these important trials that merit further critical assessment by every gastrointestinal surgeon. After each review, per the Editors' request, the authors have provided their humble opinion as to the clinical context and application of the data.

Gallbladder sarcomatoid carcinoma: Seven case reports

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare and aggressive tumor, and little is known about its clinical behavior, prognosis, and optimal treatment.

CASE SUMMARY

From 1997 to 2017, we collected seven cases of gallbladder sarcomatoid carcinoma at our institution. The median patient age was 68.5 years. Six (85.7%) patients were female. Overall, 85.7% (6/7) of the tumors had a maximal diameter greater than 7 cm. Late TNM stage was associated with a significantly poor prognosis. All patients with advanced-stage (III/IV) disease died from metastases or disease progression shortly after surgery. One patient with stage IIIB disease who received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (gemcitabine and capecitabine) achieved a progression-free survival (PFS) of 12 mo and overall survival of 15 mo, which might be the longest PFS reported among patients who ultimately experienced recurrence or metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a unique and aggressive gallbladder malignancy. Surgery is suggested as the first and only recognized treatment. There is a significant difference in prognosis between patients with early-stage and advanced-stage disease. Postoperative adjuvant therapy may bring survival benefits for locally advanced patients. Gemcitabine combined with fluorouracil and radiotherapy could be a potential strategy.

Cholangiocarcinoma 2020: the next horizon in mechanisms and management

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) includes a cluster of highly heterogeneous biliary malignant tumours that can arise at any point of the biliary tree. Their incidence is increasing globally, currently accounting for ~15% of all primary liver cancers and ~3% of gastrointestinal malignancies. The silent presentation of these tumours combined with their highly aggressive nature and refractoriness to chemotherapy contribute to their alarming mortality, representing ~2% of all cancer-related deaths worldwide yearly. The current diagnosis of CCA by non-invasive approaches is not accurate enough, and histological confirmation is necessary. Furthermore, the high heterogeneity of CCAs at the genomic, epigenetic and molecular levels severely compromises the efficacy of the available therapies. In the past decade, increasing efforts have been made to understand the complexity of these tumours and to develop new diagnostic tools and therapies that might help to improve patient outcomes. In this expert Consensus Statement, which is endorsed by the European Network for the Study of Cholangiocarcinoma, we aim to summarize and critically discuss the latest advances in CCA, mostly focusing on classification, cells of origin, genetic and epigenetic abnormalities, molecular alterations, biomarker discovery and treatments. Furthermore, the horizon of CCA for the next decade from 2020 onwards is highlighted.

Long-term survival following minimally invasive extended cholecystectomy for gallbladder cancer: A 7-year experience from the National Cancer Database

BACKGROUND

Open extended cholecystectomy (O-EC) has long been the recommended treatment for resectable gallbladder cancer (GBC), while the minimally-invasive approach for EC (MIS-EC) remains controversial. Our aim was to analyze overall survival of GBC patients treated with MIS-EC vs O-EC at the national level.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the National Cancer Database of patients with resectable GBC (2010-2016) and treated with either MIS-EC or O-EC was performed. Overall survival (OS) was compared by the surgical approach.

RESULTS

A total of 680 patients were identified, of whom 235 (34.6%) underwent MIS-EC. There were no differences in the rates of positive margins between MIS-EC and O-EC (14% vs 19%, respectively; P = .278), and in the mean lymph node yield (6.54 vs 6.66, respectively; P = .914). The median survival following MIS-EC was significantly higher than that of O-EC (39 vs 26 months; P = .048). After stratification by pathological stage and after adjustment, there was no significant difference in OS between the groups (HR = 0.9, 95% CI, 0.6-1.5).

CONCLUSION

In this large national cohort, MIS-EC oncologic outcomes were noninferior to the O-EC. Proficiency with MIS techniques, proper patient selection, and referral to specialized centers may allow a greater benefit from this treatment modality.