Should all intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy before resection?

Biliary tract cancer

BACKGROUND

Biliary tract cancers comprise a heterogeneous collection of malignancies usually described as cholangiocarcinoma of the intra- or extrahepatic bile duct, including perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

A review of pertinent parts of the ESSO core curriculum for the UEMS diploma targets (Fellowships exam, EBSQ), based on updated and available guidelines for diagnosis, surgical treatment and oncological management of cholangiocarcinoma.

RESULTS

Following the outline from the ESSO core curriculum we present the epidemiology and risk factors for cholangiocarcinoma, as well as the rationale for the current diagnosis, staging, (neo-)adjuvant treatment, surgical management, and short- and long-term outcomes. The available guidelines and consensus reports (i.e. NCCN, BGS and ESMO guidelines) are referred to. Recognition of biliary tract cancers as separate entities of the intrahepatic biliary ducts, the perihilar and distal bile duct as well as the gallbladder is important for proper management, as they each provide distinct clinical, molecular and treatment profiles to consider.

CONCLUSION

Core competencies in knowledge to the diagnosis, management and outcomes of biliary tract cancers are presented.

EASL-ILCA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) develops inside the liver, between bile ductules and the second-order bile ducts. It is the second most frequent primary liver cancer after hepatocellular carcinoma, and its global incidence is increasing. It is associated with an alarming mortality rate owing to its silent presentation (often leading to late diagnosis), highly aggressive nature and resistance to treatment. Early diagnosis, molecular characterisation, accurate staging and personalised multidisciplinary treatments represent current challenges for researchers and physicians. Unfortunately, these challenges are beset by the high heterogeneity of iCCA at the clinical, genomic, epigenetic and molecular levels, very often precluding successful management. Nonetheless, in the last few years, progress has been made in molecular characterisation, surgical management, and targeted therapy. Recent advances together with the awareness that iCCA represents a distinct entity amongst the CCA family, led the ILCA and EASL governing boards to commission international experts to draft dedicated evidence-based guidelines for physicians involved in the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic management of iCCA.

Vascular Resection for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Current Considerations

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) accounts for approximately 10% of all primary liver cancers. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment, even in cases of macrovascular invasion. Since resection offers the only curative chance, even extended liver resection combined with complex vascular or biliary reconstruction of the surrounding organs seems justified to achieve complete tumour removal. In selected cases, the major vascular resection is the only change to try getting the cure. The best results are achieved by the referral centre with a wide experience in complex liver surgery, such as ALPPS procedure, IVC resection, and ante-situ and ex-situ resections. However, despite aggressive surgery, tumour recurrence occurs frequently and long-term oncological results are very poor. This suggests that significant progress in prognosis cannot be expected by surgery alone. Instead, multimodal treatment including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and subsequent adjuvant treatment for iCCA seem to be necessary to improve results.

Liver Resection for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma-Single-Center Experience with 286 Patients Undergoing Surgical Exploration over a Thirteen Year Period

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) accounts for about 10% of primary liver cancer. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment. We report on our current series of 229 consecutive hepatic resections for iCCA, which is one of the largest Western single-center series published so far. Methods: Between January 2008 to December 2020, a total of 286 patients underwent 307 surgical explorations for intended liver resection of iCCA at our department. Data were analyzed with regard to (1) preoperative treatment of tumor, (2) operative details, (3) perioperative morbidity and mortality, (4) histopathology, (5) outcome measured by tumor recurrence, treatment of recurrence and survival and (6) prognostic factors for overall and disease-free survival. Results: the resectability rate was 74.6% (229/307). In total, 202 primary liver resections, 21 repeated, 5 re-repeated, and 1 re-re-repeated liver resections were performed. In primary liver resections there were 77% (155/202) major hepatectomies. In 39/202 (20%) of patients additional hepatic wedge resections and in 87/202 (43%) patients additional 119 other surgical procedures were performed next to hepatectomy. Surgical radicality in first liver resections was 166 R0-, 33 R1- and 1 R2-resection. Following the first liver resection, the calculated 1-, 3- and 5-year-survival is 80%, 39%, and 22% with a median survival of 25.8 months. Until the completion of data acquisition, tumors recurred in 123/202 (60.9%) patients after a median of 7.5 months (range 1–87.2 months) after resection. A multivariate cox regression revealed tumor size (p < 0.001), T stage (p < 0.001) and N stage (p = 0.003) as independent predictors for overall survival. N stage (p = 0.040), preoperative therapy (p = 0.005), T stage (p = 0.004), tumor size (p = 0.002) and M stage (p = 0.001) were independent predictors for recurrence-free survival. Conclusions: For complete surgical removal, often extended liver resection in combination with complex vascular or biliary reconstruction is required. However, despite aggressive surgery, tumor recurrence is frequent and long-term oncological results are poor. This indicated that surgery alone is unlikely to make great strides in improving prognosis of patients with iCCA, instead clearly suggesting that liver resection should be incorporated in multimodal treatment concepts.