Efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiation, followed by liver transplantation, for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma at 12 US centers

Neoadjuvant Multiagent Systemic Therapy Approach to Liver Transplantation for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Background

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (phCCA) has excellent outcomes following liver transplantation (LT). Neoadjuvant radiation-based locoregional therapy is standard-of-care. Gemcitabine and cisplatin (gem/cis) combination systemic therapies have improved outcomes in advanced settings, but their efficacy pre-LT has not been studied.

Methods

We review our experience following neoadjuvant gem/cis alone versus radiation-based approaches. Patients with phCCA undergoing LT at a single center between January 2008 and February 2023 were identified retrospectively. Neoadjuvant therapy was categorized as gem/cis systemic therapy (ST) alone, or any ST and radiotherapy (RT). Outcomes were posttransplant overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), waitlist time, and pathologic tumor response.

Results

During study period, 27 phCCA patients underwent LT. One patient decompensated with neoadjuvant therapy and was excluded. Median age was 61 y (interquartile range, 53-68 y) and 14 (54%) were male. Of 26 patients, 12 (46%) received ST and 14 (54%) RT. Six RT patients received gem/cis ST. Median waitlist time was 199 d (interquartile range, 98-405 d) and did not differ by neoadjuvant regimen. Explanted tumors were predominantly T1 stage, without lymphovascular invasion or nodal involvement. Neither pathologic features nor percent tumor necrosis differed by regimen. OS probabilities at 1 and 3 y were 84% and 55% for the cohort. There was no significant difference in OS and RFS when stratified by regimen.

Conclusions

Post-LT OS, RFS, waitlist time, and tumor response were similar in the 2 groups. Patients with phCCA who do not undergo RT may still be considered for LT under appropriate institution-based protocols that adhere to other established criteria.

Transplantation for Peri-Hilar and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma With mTOR Immunosuppression

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has rising incidence and mortality rates. Outcomes from combination systemic, loco-regional therapy (LRT) and liver transplantation (LT) are improving, but more granular data are needed to inform evidence-based management, including patient selection and immunosuppression.

METHODS

Patients with peri-hilar (PH) and intrahepatic (IH) CCA who underwent LT at a single center between January 2008 and February 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) with significance determined by Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

During the study period, 53 patients underwent LT for either PH (n = 27), or IH (26). Cohort had mean age 58.5 years old (IQR, 47.0-63.0), body mass index (BMI) 25.9 (IQR, 22.9-30.0) kg/m2, and mean biologic MELD 9 (IQR, 7-17). Most frequent etiology was PSC (n = 12, 22.6%). Forty-nine patients (92.5%) received neoadjuvant therapy, including systemic (n = 48, 90.6%) and locoregional therapy (LRT) (n = 22, 41.5%), to which PH tumors were both most and least responsive (P = .03). On explant pathology, tumor were a median size of 3.5 cm and lympho-vascular invasion (LVI) was present in 13 (24.5%) cases. Median follow-up post-transplant was 910 days (IQR, 407-1509). Probabilities of OS and RFS at 3-years post-LT were 69.2% (95% CI, 56.9%-84.2%) and 57.4% (95% CI, 43.7%-75.4%). In multivariable analysis, OS was associated with tumor type and LVI, and RFS with age, BMI, PSC and LRT. After a median post-LT period of 38 days (IQR, 27-79.5), 39 (71.7%) patients started mTOR inhibition with lowered tacrolimus goal. Cox proportional hazard model showed significant association of OS with mTOR inhibition, though this was not validated by a time-dependent co-variate approach.

CONCLUSIONS

In this single center cohort of CCA, post-LT outcomes were significantly greater for patients with IH tumors and no LVI. Immunosuppression with mTOR inhibition was not consistently associated with outcomes.

Predictive model for very early recurrence of patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: a machine learning approach

Background

Although offering the best chance of potential cure for patients with localized perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA), resection has been associated with high morbidity and sometimes poor long-term outcomes due to recurrence. We sought to develop a predictive model to identify individuals at high risk for very early recurrence (VER) after curative-intent surgery for pCCA.

Methods

Patients who underwent curative-intent surgery for pCCA between 2000-2023 were identified from a multi-institutional database. An eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model was developed to estimate the risk of VER, defined as recurrence within 6 months after resection. The relative importance of clinicopathologic factors was determined using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values.

Results

Among 434 patients undergoing curative-intent resection for pCCA, 65 (15.0%) patients developed VER. Median overall survival (OS) among patients with and without VER was 8.4 [interquartile range (IQR) 6.6-11.3] versus 38.5 (IQR 31.9-45.7) months (P<0.001). An XGBoost model was able to stratify patients relative to the risk of VER [low-risk: 6-month recurrence-free survival (RFS) 94.6% vs. intermediate-risk: 6-month RFS 88.3% vs. high-risk: 6-month RFS 40.0%; P<0.001]. Similarly, 3-year OS incrementally worsened based on VER risk (low-risk: 75.3% vs. intermediate-risk: 19.5% vs. high-risk: 4.6%; P<0.001). The SHAP algorithm identified age, preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels, tumor size and differentiation/grade, as well as lymph node metastasis as the five most important predictors of VER. The predictive accuracy of the model was good in the training [c-index: 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67-0.81] and internal validation (c-index: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.71-0.83) cohorts. An easy-to-use risk calculator for VER was developed and made available online at: https://junkawashima.shinyapps.io/VER_hilar/.

Conclusions

A novel, machine learning based model was able to predict accurately the chance of VER after curative-intent resection of pCCA. In turn, the tool may help surgeons in the selection of patients likely to benefit the most from resection, as well as counsel individuals about the anticipated risk of recurrence in the early post-operative period.

Role of immunotherapy in managing cancers prior to liver transplantation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the treatment landscape in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and increasingly are being evaluated in earlier stage disease. Herein we explore the role of ICIs pre-liver transplant for liver cancers.

RECENT FINDINGS

Given the high response rates with combination approaches including locoregional treatments, more patients with liver confined disease, without vascular invasion, who have received ICIs are now being rendered eligible for potential liver transplant. This opportunity to expand the population who may benefit from liver transplant has also come with challenges recognizing the global shortage of organs. Post-liver transplant immunosuppression potentially competes with the immune-stimulating effects of ICIs and graft rejection has been a concern. ICIs may provide an opportunity to maintain patients on the waiting list but an understanding of who is likely to benefit is needed, to circumvent possible toxicities. In addition, ICIs are now considered standard of care, in combination with chemotherapy, for advanced cholangiocarcinoma, where the role of liver transplant is evolving.

SUMMARY

As the eligibility criteria globally for liver transplant in the setting of malignancy continues to expand, the integration of ICIs becomes increasingly important.

[Cholangiocarcinomas]

The term cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) includes a group of malignant tumors that develop in the efferent bile ducts and are characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity. These differences between intrahepatic, perihilar and distal CCAs run through all aspects of the disease including the etiology, pathogenesis, symptoms, diagnostics and treatment. This review article presents the current developments in this field of diseases. We highlight surgical innovations in the clinical routine and the application of new systemic forms of treatment to augment the oncological radicality of surgery.

LIVING DONOR LIVER TRANSPLANT FOR INTRAHEPATIC CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA. AN INITIAL BRAZILIAN EXPERIENCE

BACKGROUND

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) was considered a contraindication for liver transplantation. However, recent studies have shown that highly selected cases of patients with a good response to neoadjuvant therapy may achieve acceptable survival rates when following liver transplantation.

AIMS

To present two cases of patients with iCCA, without extrahepatic disease, who underwent living donor liver transplantation after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

Two cases of patients with histopathological diagnosis of locally advanced iCCA, ineligible for resection and without evidence of extrahepatic disease, are presented.

RESULTS

These patients underwent at least nine sessions of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, including Gemcitabine and Cisplatin, with or without the addition of immunobiological agents, resulting in a radiological tumor response. They subsequently underwent living donor liver transplantation. The average follow-up time was 15 months, with no clinical or radiological signs of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

In well-selected patients without extrahepatic disease, living donor liver transplantation represents a potential therapeutic option for iCCA.

EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on liver transplantation

Liver transplantation (LT) is an established life-saving procedure. The field of LT has changed in the past 10 years from several perspectives, with the expansion of indications, transplantation of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure, evolution of transplant oncology, the use of donations after cardiac death, new surgical techniques, and prioritisation of recipients on the waiting list. In addition, the advent of organ perfusion machines, the recognition of new forms of rejection, and the attention paid to the transition from paediatric to adult patients, have all improved the management of LT recipients. The purpose of the EASL guidelines presented here is not to cover all aspects of LT but to focus on developments since the previous EASL guidelines published in 2016.

The Italian experience on liver transplantation for unresectable peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma: a national survey and future perspectives

Liver transplantation (LT) was considered an ineffective treatment for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) until the successful experience of the Mayo Clinic, proposing a protocol with strict inclusion criteria and neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy. Since 2015, pCCA is considered an indication for LT in Italy only in the context of controlled prospective studies. We performed a survey among the 22 Italian Liver Transplant Centers to assess the results of LT for pCCA. Eight centers reported 53 cases from 1986 to 2021 (Bologna 12, Padova 10, Niguarda 10, Milano Tumori 8, Torino 5, Pisa 4, Ancona 2, Modena 2). Patients were divided according to whether they recieved neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy (Group 1, 25 cases) or not (Group 2, 28 cases). Eleven patients were transplanted without neoadjuvant treatment after 2015. Overall survival at 1, 3 and 5 years was 83.8%, 56.6% and 50.6% in Group 1 and 72.4%, 41.4% and 35.5% in Gropu 2 (p = 0.13). Recurrence-free survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 91.2%, 61.1% and 47.2% in Group 1 and 58.2%, 42.2%, and 36.1% in Group 2 (p = 0.16). A competing risk regression analysis showed a 5-year risk of cancer-related death of 19% for patients in Group 1 against 62.3% in Group 2, with a hazard ratio of 0.31 (95%CI [0.10-0.98], p 0.047). This survey promoted a discussion about the limitations of the Mayo protocol and set the basis for the adoption of a new nationwide protocol (LITHALICA-NCT06125769), having the same inclusion criteria but proposing standard of care chemotherapy as neoadjuvant regimen.

Liver transplantation for primary and secondary liver tumors: Patient-level meta-analyses compared to UNOS conventional indications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Liver transplant (LT) for transplant oncology (TO) indications is being slowly adopted worldwide and has been recommended to be incorporated cautiously due to concerns about mid-long-term survival and its impact on the waiting list.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We conducted 4 systematic reviews of all series on TO indications (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma [phCC]) and liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and colorectal cancer (CRLM) and compared them using patient-level meta-analyses to data obtained from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database considering conventional daily-practice indications. Secondary analyses were done for specific selection criteria (Mayo-like protocols for phCC, SECA-2 for CRLM, and Milan criteria for NET). A total of 112,014 LT were analyzed from 2005 to 2020 from the UNOS databases and compared with 345, 721, 494, and 103 patients obtained from meta-analyses on intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and phCC, and liver metastases from NET and CRLM, respectively. Five-year overall survival was 53.3%, 56.4%, 68.6%, and 53.8%, respectively. In Mantel-Cox one-to-one comparisons, survival of TO indications was superior to combined LT, second, and third LT and not statistically significantly different from LT in recipients >70 years and high BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver transplantation for TO indications has adequate 5-year survival rates, mostly when performed under the selection criteria available in the literature (Mayo-like protocols for phCC, SECA-2 for CRLM, and Milan for NET). Despite concerns about its impact on the waiting list, some other LT indications are being performed with lower survival rates. These oncological patients should be given the opportunity to have a definitive curative therapy within validated criteria.

Lack of progress in cancer-related outcomes after liver transplantation: Mitigating risk and identifying future needs to move this needle

Malignancy has a crucial impact on long-term survival after liver transplantation. There have been enhanced early detection rates with refined cancer screening and improved prognosis for many cancer diagnoses in the general population with the advent of targeted anticancer therapies. Similar advancements have not occurred in the transplant population over this same timeframe. Individualized strategies to reduce the risk of cancer are needed in this high-risk population. Strict adherence to screening and surveillance specific to the transplant population is required. Lifestyle modifications and medication management (both immunosuppressive and non-immunosuppressive) that may impact cancer risk and outcome are highlighted here. As more effective anticancer therapies evolve, transplant recipients' access to these agents is paramount to truly impact cancer-related outcomes in this population. With adequate immunosuppression, rejection rates with immunotherapy are lower than previously purported. Prospective studies of immunosuppression modifications needed to minimize rejection and maximize cancer response are ongoing and will reduce the fear from oncology and transplant providers alike, allowing utilization of the most optimal therapy available to the individual. This review aims to assess current data to aid in clinical management and identify the need to facilitate further progress in this field.

Immunosuppression in adult liver transplant recipients: a 2024 update from the Italian Liver Transplant Working Group

PURPOSE

Advances in surgical procedures and immunosuppressive therapies have considerably improved the outcomes of patients who have undergone liver transplantation in the past few decades. In 2020, the Italian Liver Transplant Working Group published practice-oriented algorithms for immunosuppressive therapy (IT) in adult liver transplant (LT) recipients. Due to the rapidly evolving LT field, regular updates to the recommendations are required. This review presents a consensus- and evidence-based update of the 2020 recommendations.

METHODS

The Italian Liver Transplant Working Group set out to address new IT issues, which were discussed based on supporting literature and the specialists' personal experiences. The panel deliberated on and graded each statement before consensus was reached.

RESULTS

A series of consensus statements were formulated and finalized on: (i) oncologic indications for LT; (ii) management of chronic LT rejection; (iii) combined liver-kidney transplantation; (iv) immunosuppression for transplantation with an organ donated after circulatory death; (v) transplantation in the presence of frailty and sarcopenia; and (vi) ABO blood group incompatibility between donor and recipient. Algorithms were updated in the following LT groups: standard patients, critical patients, oncology patients, patients with specific etiology, and patients at high immunologic risk. A steroid-free approach was generally recommended, except for patients with autoimmune liver disease and those at high immunologic risk.

CONCLUSION

The updated consensus- and evidence-based 2024 recommendations for immunosuppression regimens in adult patients with ABO-compatible LT address a range of clinical variables that should be considered to optimize the choice of the immunosuppression treatment in clinical practice in Italy.

Management of intrahepatic and perihilar cholangiocarcinomas: Guidelines of the French Association for the Study of the Liver (AFEF)

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is the second most common malignant primary liver cancer. iCCA may develop on an underlying chronic liver disease and its incidence is growing in relation with the epidemics of obesity and metabolic diseases. In contrast, perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) may follow a history of chronic inflammatory diseases of the biliary tract. The initial management of CCAs is often complex and requires multidisciplinary expertise. The French Association for the Study of the Liver wished to organize guidelines in order to summarize the best evidence available about several key points in iCCA and pCCA. These guidelines have been elaborated based on the level of evidence available in the literature and each recommendation has been analysed, discussed and voted by the panel of experts. They describe the epidemiology of CCA as well as how patients with iCCA or pCCA should be managed from diagnosis to treatment. The most recent developments of personalized medicine and use of targeted therapies are also highlighted.

Liver transplantation for tumor entities

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Tumor entities represent an increasing indication for liver transplantation (LT). This review addresses the most contentious indications of LT in transplant oncology.

RECENT FINDINGS

Patient selection based on tumor biology in LT for colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) demonstrated promising long-term outcomes and preserved quality of life despite high recurrence rates. In selected cases, LT for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is feasible, with acceptable survival even in high-burden cases responsive to chemotherapy. LT following a strict neoadjuvant protocol for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) resulted in long-term outcomes consistently surpassing benchmark values, and potentially outperforming liver resection.

SUMMARY

While preliminary results are promising, prospective trials are crucial to define applications in routine clinical practice. Molecular profiling and targeted therapies pave the way for personalized approaches, requiring evolving allocation systems for equitable LT access.

Immunosuppression in liver transplant oncology: position paper of the Italian Board of Experts in Liver Transplantation (I-BELT)

Liver transplant oncology (TO) represents an area of increasing clinical and scientific interest including a heterogeneous group of clinical-pathological settings. Immunosuppressive management after LT is a key factor relevantly impacting result. However, disease-related guidance is still lacking, and many open questions remain in the field. Based on such a substantial lack of solid evidences, the Italian Board of Experts in Liver Transplantation (I-BELT) (a working group including representatives of all national transplant centers), unprecedently promoted a methodologically sound consensus conference on the topic, based on the GRADE approach. The group final recommendations are herein presented and commented. The 18 PICOs and Statements and their levels of evidence and grades of recommendation are reported and grouped into seven areas: (1) risk stratification by histopathological and bio-molecular parameters and role of mTORi post-LT; (2) steroids and HCC recurrence; (3) management of immunosuppression when HCC recurs after LT; (4) mTORi monotherapy; (5) machine perfusion and HCC recurrence after LT; (6) physiopathology of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and immunosuppression, the role of inflammation; (7) immunotherapy in liver transplanted patients. The interest in mammalian targets of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORi), for steroid avoidance and the need for a reduction to CNI exposure emerged from the consensus process. A selected list of unmet needs prompting further investigations have also been developed. The so far heterogeneous and granular approach to immunosuppression in oncologic patients deserves greater efforts for a more standardized therapeutic response to the different clinical scenarios. This consensus process makes a first unprecedented step in this direction, to be developed on a larger scale.

Cholangiocarcinoma: The Current Status of Surgical Options including Liver Transplantation

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) poses a substantial threat as it ranks as the second most prevalent primary liver tumor. The documented annual rise in intrahepatic CCA (iCCA) incidence in the United States is concerning, indicating its growing impact. Moreover, the five-year survival rate after tumor resection is only 25%, given that tumor recurrence is the leading cause of death in 53-79% of patients. Pre-operative assessments for iCCA focus on pinpointing tumor location, biliary tract involvement, vascular encasements, and metastasis detection. Numerous studies have revealed that portal vein embolization (PVE) is linked to enhanced survival rates, improved liver synthetic functions, and decreased overall mortality. The challenge in achieving clear resection margins contributes to the notable recurrence rate of iCCA, affecting approximately two-thirds of cases within one year, and results in a median survival of less than 12 months for recurrent cases. Nearly 50% of patients initially considered eligible for surgical resection in iCCA cases are ultimately deemed ineligible during surgical exploration. Therefore, staging laparoscopy has been proposed to reduce unnecessary laparotomy. Eligibility for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) requires certain criteria to be granted. OLT offers survival advantages for early-detected unresectable iCCA; it can be combined with other treatments, such as radiofrequency ablation and transarterial chemoembolization, in specific cases. We aim to comprehensively describe the surgical strategies available for treating CCA, including the preoperative measures and interventions, alongside the current options regarding liver resection and OLT.

The Current Role of Radiation in the Management of Cholangiocarcinoma-A Narrative Review

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare cancer of bile ducts. It is associated with a poor prognosis. The incidence of CCA is rising worldwide. Anatomical subgroups have been used to classify patients for treatment and prognosis. There is a growing understanding of clinically important distinctions based on underlying genetic differences that lead to different treatment options and outcomes. Its management is further complicated by a heterogeneous population and relative rarity, which limits the conduct of large trials to guide management. Surgery has been the primary method of therapy for localized disease; however, recurrence and death remain high with or without surgery. Therefore, there have been concerted efforts to investigate new treatment options, such as the use of neoadjuvant treatments to optimize surgical outcomes, targeted therapy, leveraging a new understanding of immunobiology and stereotactic radiation. In this narrative review, we address the evidence to improve suboptimal outcomes in unresectable CCA with radiation, as well as the role of radiation in neoadjuvant and postoperative treatment. We also briefly discuss the recent developments in systemic treatment with targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Biliary tract cancers: French national clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatments and follow-up (TNCD, SNFGE, FFCD, UNICANCER, GERCOR, SFCD, SFED, AFEF, SFRO, SFP, SFR, ACABi, ACHBPT)

INTRODUCTION

This document is a summary of the French intergroup guidelines of the management of biliary tract cancers (BTC) (intrahepatic, perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinomas, and gallbladder carcinomas) published in September 2023, available on the website of the French Society of Gastroenterology (SNFGE) (www.tncd.org).

METHODS

This collaborative work was conducted under the auspices of French medical and surgical societies involved in the management of BTC. Recommendations were graded in three categories (A, B and C) according to the level of scientific evidence until August 2023.

RESULTS

BTC diagnosis and staging is mainly based on enhanced computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and (endoscopic) ultrasound-guided biopsy. Treatment strategy depends on BTC subtype and disease stage. Surgery followed by adjuvant capecitabine is recommended for localised disease. No neoadjuvant treatment is validated to date. Cisplatin-gemcitabine chemotherapy combined to the anti-PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab is the first-line standard of care for advanced disease. Early systematic tumour molecular profiling is recommended to screen for actionable alterations (IDH1 mutations, FGFR2 rearrangements, HER2 amplification, BRAFV600E mutation, MSI/dMMR status, etc.) and guide subsequent lines of treatment. In the absence of actionable alterations, FOLFOX chemotherapy is the only second-line standard-of-care. No third-line chemotherapy standard is validated to date.

CONCLUSION

These guidelines are intended to provide a personalised therapeutic strategy for daily clinical practice. Each individual BTC case should be discussed by a multidisciplinary team.

Contemporary trends and outcomes after liver transplantation and resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Liver transplantation (LT) has been shown to be superior to resection in highly selected patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), yet has traditionally been contraindicated for intrahepatic CCA (iCCA). Herein, we aimed to examine contemporary trends and outcomes for surgical resection and LT for iCCA.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database was queried for patients presenting with stage I-III iCCA between 2010 and 2018 who underwent resection or LT. Overall survival (OS) was compared with Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox proportional hazards methods stratified by management. Secondary analysis of patients undergoing transplant for CCA was performed with the United Network for Organ Sharing database.

RESULTS

Of 2565 patients, 2412 (94.0%) underwent resection and 153 (5.96%) LT of whom 84 (54.9%) received neoadjuvant therapy. Utilization of LT remained between 3.9% and 7.8% annually. Unadjusted 5-year OS was higher for LT than resection (59.8% vs 39.9%, P = .0067), yet adjusted analysis revealed no significant difference in mortality (hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.66-1.27; P = .58). On secondary analysis including 437 patients with all subtypes of CCA, unadjusted 5-year OS was higher for non-CCA indications (79% vs 52%-54%, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Utilization of LT for iCCA remains low and many cases are likely incidental. Although partial hepatectomy remains the standard of care for patients with resectable disease, our findings suggest that highly selected patients with unresectable iCCA may achieve favorable outcomes after LT. Granular, prospective data are needed to identify patients most likely to benefit from transplant and allocate scarce liver grafts.

Role of sex in liver tumor occurrence and clinical outcomes: A comprehensive review

Clinical research on sex-based differences in the manifestations, pathophysiology, and prevalence of several diseases, including those affecting the liver, has expanded considerably in recent years. Increasing evidence suggests that liver diseases develop, progress, and respond to treatment differently depending on the sex. These observations support the concept that the liver is a sexually dimorphic organ in which estrogen and androgen receptors are present, which results in disparities between men and women in liver gene expression patterns, immune responses, and the progression of liver damage, including the propensity to develop liver malignancies. Sex hormones play protective or deleterious roles depending on the patient's sex, the severity of the underlying disease, and the nature of precipitating factors. Moreover, obesity, alcohol consumption, and active smoking, as well as social determinants of liver diseases leading to sex-related inequalities, may interact strongly with hormone-related mechanisms of liver damage. Drug-induced liver injury, viral hepatitis, and metabolic liver diseases are influenced by the status of sex hormones. Available data on the roles of sex hormones and gender differences in liver tumor occurrence and clinical outcomes are conflicting. Here, we critically review the main gender-based differences in the molecular mechanisms associated with liver carcinogenesis and the prevalence, prognosis, and treatment of primary and metastatic liver tumors.

Current and Future Therapeutic Targets for Directed Molecular Therapies in Cholangiocarcinoma

We conducted a comprehensive review of the current literature of published data, clinical trials (MEDLINE; ncbi.pubmed.com), congress contributions (asco.org; esmo.org), and active recruiting clinical trains (clinicaltrial.gov) on targeted therapies in cholangiocarcinoma. Palliative treatment regimens were analyzed as well as preoperative and perioperative treatment options. We summarized the current knowledge for each mutation and molecular pathway that is or has been under clinical evaluation and discussed the results on the background of current treatment guidelines. We established and recommended targeted treatment options that already exist for second-line settings, including IDH-, BRAF-, and NTRK-mutated tumors, as well as for FGFR2 fusion, HER2/neu-overexpression, and microsatellite instable tumors. Other options for targeted treatment include EGFR- or VEGF-dependent pathways, which are known to be overexpressed or dysregulated in this cancer type and are currently under clinical investigation. Targeted therapy in CCA is a hallmark of individualized medicine as these therapies aim to specifically block pathways that promote cancer cell growth and survival, leading to tumor shrinkage and improved patient outcomes based on the molecular profile of the tumor.

Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver clinical practice guidelines on liver transplantation

Liver transplantation is a highly complex and challenging field of clinical practice. Although it was originally developed in western countries, it has been further advanced in Asian countries through the use of living donor liver transplantation. This method of transplantation is the only available option in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region due to the lack of deceased organ donation. As a result of this clinical situation, there is a growing need for guidelines that are specific to the Asia-Pacific region. These guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations for evidence-based management throughout the entire process of liver transplantation, covering both deceased and living donor liver transplantation. In addition, the development of these guidelines has been a collaborative effort between medical professionals from various countries in the region. This has allowed for the inclusion of diverse perspectives and experiences, leading to a more comprehensive and effective set of guidelines.

Impact of EUS in liver transplantation workup for patients with unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

For a highly selected group of patients with unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA), liver transplantation (LT) is a treatment option. The Dutch screening protocol comprises nonregional lymph node (LN) assessment by EUS, and whenever LN metastases are identified, further LT screening is precluded. The aim of this study is to investigate the yield of EUS in patients with pCCA who are potentially eligible for LT.

METHODS

In this retrospective, nationwide cohort study, all consecutive patients with suspected unresectable pCCA who underwent EUS in the screening protocol for LT were included from 2011 to 2021. During EUS, sampling of a "suspicious" nonregional LN was performed based on the endoscopist's discretion. The primary outcome was the added value of EUS, defined as the number of patients who were precluded from further screening because of malignant LNs.

RESULTS

A total of 75 patients were included in whom 84 EUS procedures were performed, with EUS-guided tissue acquisition confirming malignancy in LNs in 3 of 75 (4%) patients. In the 43 who underwent surgical staging according to the protocol, nonregional LNs with malignancy were identified in 6 (14%) patients. Positive regional LNs were found in 7 patients in post-LT-resected specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Our current EUS screening for the detection of malignant LNs in patients with pCCA eligible for LT shows a limited but clinically important yield. EUS with systematic screening of all LN stations, both regional and nonregional, and the sampling of suspicious lymph nodes according to defined and set criteria could potentially increase this yield.

NGS of brush cytology samples improves the detection of high-grade dysplasia and cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A retrospective and prospective study

BACKGROUND

Biliary dysplasia, a precursor of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), is a common complication of primary sclerosing cholangitis. Patients with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or early CCA who have received oncological treatment are candidates for liver transplantation. The preoperative diagnosis of CCA or HGD is challenging, and the sensitivity of biliary brush cytology (BC) is limited.

METHODS

By using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we retrospectively analyzed archived tissue samples (n=62) obtained from explanted liver tissue and CCA samples to identify oncogenic mutations that occur during primary sclerosing cholangitis carcinogenesis. BC samples were prospectively collected from patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (n=97) referred for endoscopic retrograde cholangiography to measure the diagnostic utility of NGS combined with BC compared with traditional cytology alone.

RESULTS

Mutations in KRAS, GNAS, FLT3, RNF43, TP53, ATRX, and SMAD4 were detected in archived CCA or HGD samples. KRAS, GNAS, TP53, CDKN2A, FBXW7, BRAF, and ATM mutations were detected in prospectively collected brush samples from patients with histologically verified CCA or HGD. One patient with low-grade dysplasia in the explanted liver had KRAS and GNAS mutations in brush sample. No mutations were observed in brush samples or archived tissues in liver transplantation cases without biliary neoplasia. While KRAS mutations are common in biliary neoplasms, they were also observed in patients without biliary neoplasia during surveillance.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, NGS of BC samples increased the sensitivity of detecting biliary neoplasia compared with traditional cytology. Performing NGS on BC samples may help diagnose HGD or early CCA, benefiting the timing of liver transplantation.

Perioperative and palliative systemic treatments for biliary tract cancer

Due to the fact biliary tract cancer (BTC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, thus, not eligible for resection, and due to the aggressive tumor biology, it is considered as one of the cancer types with the worst prognosis. Advances in diagnosis, surgical techniques, and molecular characterization have led to an improvement of the prognosis of BTC patients, recently. Although neoadjuvant therapy is expected to improve surgical outcomes by reducing tumor size, its routine is not well established. The application of neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced disease may be indicated, the routine use of systemic therapy prior to surgery for cholangiocarcinoma patients with an upfront resectable disease is less well established, but discussed and performed in selected cases. In advanced disease, only combination chemotherapy regimens have been demonstrated to achieve disease control in untreated patients. Molecular profiling of the tumor has demonstrated that many BTC might bear actionable targets, which might be addressed by biological treatments, thus improving the prognosis of the patients. Furthermore, the addition of the immunotherapy to standard chemotherapy might improve the prognosis in a subset of patients. This review seeks to give a comprehensive overview about the role of neoadjuvant as well as palliative systemic treatment approaches and an outlook about novel systemic treatment concept in BTC.

National guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma

A consensus meeting of national experts from all major national hepatobiliary centres in the country was held on May 26, 2023, at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute & Research Centre (PKLI & RC) after initial consultations with the experts. The Pakistan Society for the Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD) and PKLI & RC jointly organised this meeting. This effort was based on a comprehensive literature review to establish national practice guidelines for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA). The consensus was that hCCA is a complex disease and requires a multidisciplinary team approach to best manage these patients. This coordinated effort can minimise delays and give patients a chance for curative treatment and effective palliation. The diagnostic and staging workup includes high-quality computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Brush cytology or biopsy utilizing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a mainstay for diagnosis. However, histopathologic confirmation is not always required before resection. Endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration of regional lymph nodes and positron emission tomography scan are valuable adjuncts for staging. The only curative treatment is the surgical resection of the biliary tree based on the Bismuth-Corlette classification. Selected patients with unresectable hCCA can be considered for liver transplantation. Adjuvant chemotherapy should be offered to patients with a high risk of recurrence. The use of preoperative biliary drainage and the need for portal vein embolisation should be based on local multidisciplinary discussions. Patients with acute cholangitis can be drained with endoscopic or percutaneous biliary drainage. Palliative chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine has shown improved survival in patients with irresectable and recurrent hCCA.

Single center experience using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) on orthotopic liver transplant protocol for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate tolerability, pathologic response, and disease outcomes utilizing pre-operative stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) followed by consolidation chemotherapy (CHT) prior to orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) in unresectable cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review of patients treated on OLT protocol at a single tertiary center from 2012 to 2019. Patients received pre-operative SBRT (40-50 Gy in 5 fractions) followed by CHT until progression or OLT. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared via log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

26 patients (84.6% hilar, 15.4% intrahepatic) were identified for analysis. Eight patients (30.8%) patients developed acute toxicity after SBRT, mostly grade 1 nausea. Nine (34.6%) patients underwent OLT of which 4 (44.4%) achieved a pathologic complete response (pCR). Five (55.6%) OLT patients, including 2 pCR, developed recurrence at a median time of 49.9 weeks after OLT. 3-year OS for the OLT and dropout cohort was 75% and 9%, respectively (p < 0.0001). OS in hilar tumors only was statistically different for those that achieved a pCR (p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-operative SBRT is a well-tolerated and effective radiation technique as part of OLT protocol for unresectable CCA and conferred in a pCR rate of 44% within our cohort.

Cholangiocarcinoma: Recent Advances in Molecular Pathobiology and Therapeutic Approaches

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCA) pose a complex challenge in oncology due to diverse etiologies, necessitating tailored therapeutic approaches. This review discusses the risk factors, molecular pathology, and current therapeutic options for CCA and explores the emerging strategies encompassing targeted therapies, immunotherapy, novel compounds from natural sources, and modulation of gut microbiota. CCA are driven by an intricate landscape of genetic mutations, epigenetic dysregulation, and post-transcriptional modification, which differs based on geography (e.g., for liver fluke versus non-liver fluke-driven CCA) and exposure to environmental carcinogens (e.g., exposure to aristolochic acid). Liquid biopsy, including circulating cell-free DNA, is a potential diagnostic tool for CCA, which warrants further investigations. Currently, surgical resection is the primary curative treatment for CCA despite the technical challenges. Adjuvant chemotherapy, including cisplatin and gemcitabine, is standard for advanced, unresectable, or recurrent CCA. Second-line therapy options, such as FOLFOX (oxaliplatin and 5-FU), and the significance of radiation therapy in adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and palliative settings are also discussed. This review underscores the need for personalized therapies and demonstrates the shift towards precision medicine in CCA treatment. The development of targeted therapies, including FDA-approved drugs inhibiting FGFR2 gene fusions and IDH1 mutations, is of major research focus. Investigations into immune checkpoint inhibitors have also revealed potential clinical benefits, although improvements in survival remain elusive, especially across patient demographics. Novel compounds from natural sources exhibit anti-CCA activity, while microbiota dysbiosis emerges as a potential contributor to CCA progression, necessitating further exploration of their direct impact and mechanisms through in-depth research and clinical studies. In the future, extensive translational research efforts are imperative to bridge existing gaps and optimize therapeutic strategies to improve therapeutic outcomes for this complex malignancy.

Liver Transplantation for Colorectal Liver Metastases

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Approximately half of the patients diagnosed will develop colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Liver resection has a 50% 5-year survival; however, only a fourth of cases are resectable. Unresectable CRLM has poor prognosis despite improved systemic and local ablative treatments. Liver transplantation (LT) has demonstrated a survival benefit in initial prospective clinical trials. Current use of LT for CRLM is limited to several randomized trials and high-performing centers. Improving patient selection criteria and perioperative management, LT will likely become an important part of the multidisciplinary approach to managing the metastatic disease.

How to Determine Unresectability in Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is considered a biologically aggressive disease for which surgical resection remains the only curative treatment. Preoperative evaluation for resectability is challenging given tumor proximity to the porta hepatis, but minimal benefit and increased morbidity precludes recommendation for margin positive resection. This article reviews the determination of unresectability in hilar cholangiocarcinoma through discussion of the preoperative assessment, the intraoperative assessment, and key steps of surgical resection, as well as treatment options for unresectable tumors. Overall, evaluating patients preoperatively for resectability requires a multidisciplinary, holistic, and individualized approach to accurately determine resectability and optimize clinical outcomes for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Liver Transplantation for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA) is an infiltrative disease that often presents with locally advanced and/or metastatic disease, with a minority of patients eligible for surgical resection. Select patients with unresectable hCCA, or patients with hCCA in the setting of primary sclerosing cholangitis, with tumors less than 3 cm and no evidence of extrahepatic disease, can be effectively treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by liver transplantation. Staging laparotomy documenting lack of occult metastatic disease, including a portal lymphadenectomy documenting no nodal metastases, is essential to achieve optimal outcomes. Overall 5 year survival among treated patients is approximately 60%.

Laparoscopic Living donor liver transplantation in irresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in primary sclerosing cholangitis associated liver cirrhosis

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is the second most common primary liver tumor and usually associated with a poor oncological prognosis. The current gold standard is the surgical resection of the tumor with subsequent adjuvant therapy. However, in case of irresectability e.g. in case of liver cirrhosis, a palliative treatment regime is conducted.This report demonstrates the case of an irresectable iCCA in liver cirrhosis due to primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) treated by living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) facilitated by minimal invasive donor hepatectomy. No postoperative complications were observed in the donor and the donor was released on the 6th postoperative day. Further, after a follow-up of 1.5 years, no disease recurrence was detected in the recipient.According to the recent international literature, liver transplantation can be evaluated in case of small solitary iCCA (< 3 cm) in cirrhosis. Less evidence is provided for transplantation in advanced tumors which are surgically not resectable due to advanced liver disease or infiltration of major vessels, however some reports display adequate long-term survival after strict patient selection. The selection criteria comprise the absence of distant metastases and locoregional lymph node metastases as well as partial remission or stable disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Due to no established graft allocation for iCCA in Germany, LDLT is currently the best option to realize transplantation in these patients. Developments in the last decade indicate that LDLT should preferentially be performed in minimal invasive manner (laparoscopic or robotic) as this approach is associated with less overall complications and a shorter hospitalization. The presented case illustrates the possibilities of modern surgery and the introduction of transplant oncology in the modern therapy of patients combining systemic therapy, surgical resection and transplantation to achieve optimal long-term results in patients which were initially indicated for palliative treatment.

The Use of MR-Guided Radiation Therapy for Liver Cancer

The role of radiotherapy in the management of primary and metastatic liver malignancies has expanded in recent years due to advances such as IGRT and SBRT. MRI-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) has arisen as an excellent option for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and liver metastases due to the ability to combine improved hepatic imaging with conformal treatment planning paradigms like adaptive radiotherapy and advanced motion management techniques. Herein we review the data for MRgRT for liver malignancies, as well as describe workflow and technical considerations for the 2 commercially available MRgRT delivery platforms.

Multi-Disciplinary Care of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: Review of Guidelines and Recent Advancements

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare malignancy of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary ducts. CCA is primarily defined by its anatomic location: intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma versus extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) is a subtype of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma that arises from the common hepatic bile duct and can extend to the right and/or left hepatic bile ducts. Upfront surgery with adjuvant capecitabine is the standard of care for patients who present with early disease and the only curative therapy. Unfortunately, most patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease and must rely on systemic therapy as their primary treatment. However, even with current systemic therapy, survival is still poor. As such, research is focused on developing targeted therapies and multimodal strategies to improve overall prognosis. This review discusses the work-up and management of HC focused on the most up-to-date literature and ongoing clinical trials.

British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma

These guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) were commissioned by the British Society of Gastroenterology liver section. The guideline writing committee included a multidisciplinary team of experts from various specialties involved in the management of CCA, as well as patient/public representatives from AMMF (the Cholangiocarcinoma Charity) and PSC Support. Quality of evidence is presented using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) format. The recommendations arising are to be used as guidance rather than as a strict protocol-based reference, as the management of patients with CCA is often complex and always requires individual patient-centred considerations.

Systematic sequential therapy for ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is a highly malignant tumor arising from the biliary tree. Radical surgery is the only treatment offering a chance of long-term survival. However, limited by the tumor's anatomic location and peri-vascular invasion, most patients lose the chance for curative treatment. Therefore, more methods to increase the resectability of tumors as well as to improve outcomes are needed.

CASE SUMMARY

A 68-year-old female patient had a hepatic hilar mass without obvious symptoms. Laboratory results showed hepatitis B positivity. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated that the mass (maximum diameter: 41 mm) invaded the left and right branches of the main portal vein, as well as the middle, left and right hepatic veins; enlarged lymph nodes were also detected in the hilum. The patient was diagnosed with pCCA, and the clinical stage was determined to be T4N1M0 (stage IIIC). Considering the tumor's anatomic location and vascular invasion, systematic conversion therapy followed by ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation (ELRA) was determined as personalized treatment for this patient. Our original systemic sequential therapeutic strategy (lenvatinib and tislelizumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin) was successfully adopted as conversion therapy because she achieved partial response after three cycles of treatment, without severe toxicity. ELRA, anastomotic reconstruction of the middle hepatic vein, right hepatic vein, root of portal vein, inferior vena cava and right hepatic artery, and lymph node dissection were performed at one month after systemic therapy. Pathological and immunohistochemical examination confirmed the diagnosis of pCCA with lymph node metastasis. Although the middle hepatic vein was partially obstructed four months later, hepatic vein stent implantation successfully addressed this problem. The patient has survived for 22 mo after the diagnosis, with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis.

CONCLUSION

An effective therapeutic strategy for conversion therapy greatly increases the feasibility and efficiency of ELRA.

Transplant Oncology: An Emerging Discipline of Cancer Treatment

Transplant oncology is an emerging concept of cancer treatment with a promising prospective outcome. The applications of oncology, transplant medicine, and surgery are the core of transplant oncology to improve patients' survival and quality of life. The main concept of transplant oncology is to radically cure cancer by removing the diseased organ and replacing it with a healthy one, aiming to improve the survival outcomes and quality of life of cancer patients. Subsequently, it seeks to expand the treatment options and research for hepatobiliary malignancies, which have seen significantly improved survival outcomes after the implementation of liver transplantation (LT). In the case of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the transplant setting, where the liver is the most common site of metastasis of patients who are considered to have unresectable disease, initial studies have shown improved survival for LT treatment compared to palliative therapy interventions. The indications of LT for hepatobiliary malignancies have been slowly expanded over the years beyond Milan criteria in a stepwise manner. However, the outcome improvements and overall patient survival are limited to the specifics of the setting and systematic intervention options. This review aims to illustrate the representative concepts and history of transplant oncology as an emerging discipline for the management of hepatobiliary malignancies, in addition to other emerging concepts, such as the uses of immunotherapy in a peri-transplant setting as well as the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for surveillance post-transplantation.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: how do hepatectomy outcomes compare to liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma?

BACKGROUND

The incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) continues to rise, and hepatectomy is the only cure. Perioperative outcomes following hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are better described than for ICC. The aim was to compare post-hepatectomy outcomes for ICC to CRLM and HCC.

METHODS

The 2014-2020 ACS NSQIP hepatectomy PUF was utilized. Patients with ICC, CRLM, and HCC were identified and others excluded. Demographic, disease, and procedural characteristics were collected. Univariable and multivariable analyses (Chi-Square for categorical variables; Kruskal-Wallis for continuous variables) were performed for mortality, serious morbidity, bile leak, post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), and 30-day readmission.

RESULTS

17,789 patients underwent hepatectomy including 2377 for ICC, 10,195 for CRLM, and 5217 for HCC. Patients undergoing hepatectomy for ICC vs. HCC vs. CRLM were noted to have higher 30-day mortality (4.8% vs. 2.5% vs. 1.0%, respectively p < 0.05). ICC was associated with higher overall and serious morbidity, bile leak, severe PHLF, and readmission. Multivariable analyses confirmed higher odds ratios for mortality and morbidity (p < 0.05) in patients with ICC.

CONCLUSION

Hepatectomy for ICC is associated with worse short-term outcomes than for CRLM or HCC. Surgeons should be aware of these risks during surgical planning.

Updates and Expert Opinions on Liver Transplantation for Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Transplant oncology is a relatively new field in which transplantation is used to treat patients who would otherwise be unresectable. New anticancer treatment paradigms using tumor and transplant immunology and cancer immunogenomics are emerging. In turn, liver transplantation (LT) has become a potential therapy for certain patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) with liver metastasis, hepatocellular (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and metastatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET) of the liver. Although there are established criteria for LT in HCC, evidence regarding LT as a treatment modality for certain gastrointestinal malignancies is still debated. The aim of this review is to highlight updates in the role of LT for certain malignancies, including HCC, metastatic CRC, hilar CCA, and neuroendocrine tumor (NET), as well as contextualize LT use and discuss controversies in transplant oncology.

Research trends in cholangiocarcinoma treatments during the last 3 decades

Background

Over the past 30 years, numerous studies have focused on the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and these treatments have greatly evolved.

Objectives

To better understand the research trends, we evaluated the most influential publications and attempted to identify their characteristics using bibliometric methods.

Methods

The most influential publications were identified from the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Core Collection database. The general characteristics of included papers were identified, and the research trends were explored via the bibliometric method.

Results

The average total number of citations for of the listed publications were 312 (range from 165 to 1922). The highest number of papers were published during period II (2001-2010, n = 50), followed by period III (2011-2020, n = 28), and period I (1991-2000, n = 22). The United States and Germany have made remarkable achievements in this field. Institutionally, Mayo Clinic and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center were the leading institutions, with Blumgart and Zhu from the United States being the most influential authors. Close collaboration was established between the leading countries, institutions, and authors. The Annals of Surgery contributed the most to the papers with the highest total number of citations. Surgery predominated during period I (n = 14, 63.6%), with a gradual decline occurring during periods II (n = 19, 41.3%, P = 0.085) and period III (n = 3, 9.4%, P = 0.002). Contrastingly, the number of publications related to systemic therapy has increased significantly since period II and peaked in period III.

Conclusions

Surgery remains the most important treatment for CCA. However systemic therapy has become a research and clinical application hotspot. These findings will contribute to the translation of treatments for CCA and provide researchers with relevant research directions.

Liver Transplantation 2023: Status Report, Current and Future Challenges

Liver transplantation offers live-saving therapy for patients with complications of cirrhosis and stage T2 hepatocellular carcinoma. The demand for organs far outstrips the supply, and innovations aimed at increasing the number of usable deceased donors as well as alternative donor sources are a major focus. The etiologies of cirrhosis are shifting over time, with more need for transplantation among patients with alcohol-associated liver disease and nonalcoholic/metabolic fatty liver disease and less for viral hepatitis, although hepatitis B remains an important indication for transplant in countries with high endemicity. The rise in transplantation for alcohol-associated liver disease and nonalcoholic/metabolic fatty liver disease has brought attention to how patients are selected for transplantation and the strategies needed to prevent recurrent disease. In this review, we present a status report on the most pressing topics in liver transplantation and future challenges.

Neoadjuvant Therapy Regimens for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma Before Liver Transplant

OBJECTIVES

Patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA) may be eligible for curative treatment through liver transplantation (LT). Neoadjuvant protocols often include radiotherapy (RT), however, there is no standard RT approach. The purpose of this study is to characterize practice patterns of RT use before transplantation for hCCA.

METHODS

A survey was administered to radiation oncologists practicing at LT centers identified through the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplant Network and the International Cholangiocarcinoma Research Network. The survey consisted of 13 questions regarding RT details as well as approaches to systemic therapy. For cross-regimen comparison, the cumulative RT tumor dose was standardized using the EQD2 method.

RESULTS

Twenty-three centers utilizing neoadjuvant therapy for hCCA were identified. Most respondents (96%) use both chemotherapy and RT as part of their protocol. Elective nodal volumes commonly included the portal vein lymph nodes (91%) and celiac artery lymph nodes (70%). After an initial 45 Gy plan, a wide range of sequential boost regimens was used. The median cumulative dose including boosts to the gross disease was 58 Gy (EQD2) with a wide range of 40 to 110 Gy. Five (22%) include brachytherapy as part of their treatment plan. The majority (96%) used concurrent chemotherapy with fluoropyrimidines.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest significant variability of neoadjuvant RT use for hCCA before LT. A wide range of doses and fractionation schemes are utilized with cumulative doses ranging from 40 to 110 Gy (EQD2). A further study evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of these various approaches is warranted to better inform best practices.