Orthotopic liver transplantation in combination with neoadjuvant therapy: a new paradigm in the treatment of unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Liver transplantation for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: who, when and how

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Using transplant oncology principles, selected patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) may achieve long-term survival after liver transplantation. Strategies for identifying and managing these patients are discussed in this review.

RECENT FINDINGS

Unlike initial reports, several modern series have reported positive outcomes after liver transplantation for iCCA. The main challenges are in identifying the appropriate candidates and graft scarcity. Tumor burden and response to neoadjuvant therapies have been successfully used to identify favorable biology in unresectable cases. New molecular biomarkers will probably predict this response in the future. Also, new technologies and better strategies have been used to increase graft availability for these patients without affecting the liver waitlist.

SUMMARY

Liver transplantation for the management of patients with unresectable iCCA is currently a reality under strict research protocols. Who is a candidate for transplantation, when to use neoadjuvant and locoregional therapies, and how to increase graft availability are the main topics of this review.

A novel nomogram for adult primary perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and considerations concerning lymph node dissection

Objective

To construct a reliable nomogram available online to predict the postoperative survival of patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods

Data from 1808 patients diagnosed with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma between 2004 and 2015 were extracted from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. They were randomly divided into training and validation sets. The nomogram was established by machine learning and Cox model. The discriminant ability and prediction accuracy of the nomogram were evaluated by concordance index (C-index), receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve. Kaplan-Meier curves show the prognostic value of the associated risk factors and classification system.

Results

Machine learning and multivariate Cox risk regression model showed that sex, age, tumor differentiation, primary tumor stage(T), lymph node metastasis(N), TNM stage, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, lymph node dissection were associated with the prognosis of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma patients relevant factors (P < 0.05). A novel nomogram was established. The calibration plots, C-index and ROC curve for predictions of the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS were in excellent agreement. In patients with stage T1 and N0 perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, the prognosis of ≥4 lymph nodes dissected was better than that of 1- 3 lymph nodes dissected (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The nomogram prognostic prediction model can provide a reference for evaluating the prognosis and survival rate of patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Patients with stage T1 and N0 perihilar cholangiocarcinoma have more benefits by increasing the number of lymph node dissection.

Gemcitabine and Cisplatin as Neo-Adjuvant for Cholangiocarcinoma Patients Prior to Liver Transplantation: Case-Series

Background: The management of cholangiocarcinoma is continually reviewed on a current evidence basis to develop practice guidelines and consensus statements. However, the standardized treatment guidelines are still unclear for cholangiocarcinoma patients who are listed for liver transplantation. We aimed to validate and evaluate the potential efficacy of chemotherapy combination of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin as a neo-adjuvant treatment for cholangiocarcinoma patients before liver transplantation. Methods: In this prospective case series, patients with locally advanced, unresectable, hilar, or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with no evidence of extrahepatic disease or vascular involvement were treated with a combination of neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin with no radiation. All patients included received chemotherapy prior to being listed for liver transplantation at a single cancer center according to an open-labeled, and center-approved clinical management protocol. The primary endpoints were the overall survival and recurrence-free survival after liver transplantation. Results: Between 1 March 2016, and 15 March 2022, 10 patients (8 males and 2 females) with a median age of 62.71(interquartile range: 60.02–71.87) had a confirmed diagnosis of intrahepatic or hilar cholangiocarcinoma and underwent liver transplantation. Median days of neoadjuvant therapy for a given combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin were 181 (IRQ: 120–250). Nine patients (90%) were reported with no recurrence or metastasis, and only 1 patient had confirmed metastasis (10%); days for metastasis after transplantation were 612 for this patient. All patients received a combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin as neo-adjuvant while awaiting liver transplantation. The median days of follow-up were 851 (813–967). Overall survival was 100% (95% CI 100–100%) at both years one and two; 75% (95% CI 13–96%) at years three to five. One patient died at eight hundred and eighty-five days. No adverse events were reported after liver transplantation including the patient who was confirmed with recurrence. Conclusions: Our finding demonstrated that neo-adjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin with no radiation prior to liver transplantation resulted in excellent outcomes for patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

Survival following liver transplantation for locally advanced, unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has previously been considered a contraindication to liver transplantation (LT). However, recent series showed favorable outcomes for LT after neoadjuvant therapy. Our center developed a protocol for neoadjuvant therapy and LT for patients with locally advanced, unresectable iCCA in 2010. Patients undergoing LT were required to demonstrate disease stability for 6 months on neoadjuvant therapy with no extrahepatic disease. During the study period, 32 patients were listed for LT and 18 patients underwent LT. For transplanted patients, the median number of iCCA tumors was 2, and the median cumulative tumor diameter was 10.4 cm. Patients receiving LT had an overall survival at 1-, 3-, and 5-years of 100%, 71%, and 57%. Recurrences occurred in seven patients and were treated with systemic therapy and resection. The study population had a higher than expected proportion of patients with genetic alterations in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and DNA damage repair pathways. These data support LT as a treatment for highly selected patients with locally advanced, unresectable iCCA. Further studies to identify criteria for LT in iCCA and factors predicting survival are warranted.

Update on the association of hepatitis B with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Is there new evidence?

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a subgroup of cholangiocarcinoma that accounts for about 10%-20% of the total cases. Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most important predisposing factors leading to the formation of iCCA. It has been recently estimated based on abundant epidemiological data that the association between HBV infection and iCCA is strong with an odds ratio of about 4.5. The HBV-associated mechanisms that lead to iCCA are under intense investigation. The diagnosis of iCCA in the context of chronic liver disease is challenging and often requires histological confirmation to distinguish from hepatocellular carcinoma. It is currently unclear whether antiviral treatment for HBV can decrease the incidence of iCCA. In terms of management, surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment. There is a need for effective treatment modalities beyond resection in both first- and second-line treatment. In this review, we summarize the epidemiological evidence that links the two entities, discuss the pathogenesis of HBV-associated iCCA, and present the available data on the diagnosis and management of this cancer.

A simple scoring system to estimate perioperative mortality following liver resection for primary liver malignancy-the Hepatectomy Risk Score (HeRS)

Background

Selection of the optimal treatment modality for primary liver cancers remains complex, balancing patient condition, liver function, and extent of disease. In individuals with preserved liver function, liver resection remains the primary approach for treatment with curative intent but may be associated with significant mortality. The purpose of this study was to establish a simple scoring system based on Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) and extent of resection to guide risk assessment for liver resections.

Methods

The 2005-2015 NSQIP database was queried for patients undergoing liver resection for primary liver malignancy. We first developed a model that incorporated the extent of resection (1 point for major hepatectomy) and a MELD-Na score category of low (MELD-Na =6, 1 point), medium (MELD-Na =7-10, 2 points) or high (MELD-Na >10, 3 points) with a score range of 1-4, called the Hepatic Resection Risk Score (HeRS). We tested the predictive value of this model on the dataset using logistic regression. We next developed an optimal multivariable model using backwards sequential selection of variables under logistic regression. We performed K-fold cross validation on both models. Receiver operating characteristics were plotted and the optimal sensitivity and specificity for each model were calculated to obtain positive and negative predictive values.

Results

A total of 4,510 patients were included. HeRS was associated with increased odds of 30-day mortality [HeRS =2: OR =3.23 (1.16-8.99), P=0.025; HeRS =3: OR =6.54 (2.39-17.90), P<0.001; HeRS =4: OR =13.69 (4.90-38.22), P<0.001]. The AUC for this model was 0.66. The AUC for the optimal multivariable model was higher at 0.76. Under K-fold cross validation, the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of these two models were similar at PPV =6.4% and NPV =97.7% for the HeRS only model and PPV =8.4% and NPV =98.1% for the optimal multivariable model.

Conclusions

The HeRS offers a simple heuristic for estimating 30-day mortality after resection of primary liver malignancy. More complicated models offer better performance but at the expense of being more difficult to integrate into clinical practice.

Management of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma is a tumor that arises as a result of differentiation of the cholangiocytes and can develop from anywhere in the biliary tree. Subtypes of cholangiocarcinoma are differentiated based on their location in the biliary tree. If diagnosed early these can be resected, but most cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma present late in the disease course where surgical resection is not an option. In these patients who are poor candidates for resection, a combination of chemotherapy, locoregional therapies like ablation, transarterial chemo and radioembolization, and in very advanced and metastatic disease, external radiation are the available options. These modalities can improve overall disease-free and progression-free survival chances. In this review, we will discuss the risk factors and clinical presentation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, diagnosis, available therapeutic options, and future directions for management options.

Multidisciplinary treatment for hilar and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A review of the general principles

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare but devastating malignancy that presents late, and associated with a high mortality if untreated. CCA is locally aggressive and located in close proximity to vital structures i.e. the portal vein and hepatic artery. A complete extirpation of the tumor including microscopically detectable disease R0 resection offers the best possibility of long-term survival in patients with CCA. As such, the surgical approach to achieve a R0 resection is dictated by the location of the tumor and the presence of underlying liver disease. The present article focuses on the general principles of the multidisciplinary treatment of hilar and intrahepatic CCA.

Downstaging Locally Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma Pre-Liver Transplantation: A Prospective Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) after neoadjuvant therapy (NT) in well-selected patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) achieves excellent recurrence-free survival. Current criteria for NT-OLT exclude patients with locally advanced hilar and intrahepatic CCA from potential cure. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of NT in downstaging locally advanced CCA, and examine outcomes after OLT.

METHODS

Among 24 patients referred for unresectable hilar and intrahepatic CCA from January 2013 through August 2017, 18 met center-specific inclusion criteria for the NT-OLT treatment protocol: hilar tumor size ≤3.5 cm or intrahepatic ≤8 cm, and regional lymphadenopathy but without distant metastasis. Median follow-up was 22.1 mo from diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of 18 patients who initiated NT, 11 were removed from the protocol due to tumor progression (n = 6) or uncontrolled infection and failure-to-thrive (n = 5). Median NT duration tended to be shorter for patients progressing to dropout than for those surviving to OLT (5.5 versus 13.5 mo, P = 0.109). Among five patients who received OLT, 1-y post-OLT patient survival was 80%: three survive recurrence-free (14.5-29.2 mo post-OLT); one developed an isolated tumor recurrence in a single portacaval lymph node at 12 mo post-OLT; and one experienced non-tumor-related death. All dropout patients died at a median of 14.4 mo after diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first prospective study to show successful NT downstaging of unresectable locally advanced hilar and intrahepatic CCA before OLT. NT-OLT for select patients with locally advanced hilar and intrahepatic CCA achieved acceptable short-term recurrence-free survival.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy in cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has been used in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) but toxicity and clinical results of SBRT in CC are still limited and sparse. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to analyze the results of SBRT in the setting of advanced CC.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane library using the PRISMA methodology. Studies including at least 10 patients with diagnosis of advanced CC regardless of tumor site and other treatments were included. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) and secondary endpoints were local control (LC) and toxicity rates. The ROBINS-I risk of bias tool was used.

RESULTS

10 studies (231 patients) fulfilled the selection criteria and were included in this review. All but one study showed moderate to serious risk of bias. Median follow up was 15 months (range: 7.8-64.0 months). Pooled 1 year OS was 58.3% (_95% CI: 50.2-66.1%) and pooled 2 year OS was 35.5% (_95% CI: 22.1-50.1%). Pooled 1 year LC was 83.4%, (_95% CI: 76.5-89.4%). The reported toxicities were acceptable and manageable with only one treatment-related death.

CONCLUSION

The role of SBRT in CC is not yet supported by robust evidence in literature. However, within this limit, preliminary results seem almost comparable to the ones of standard chemotherapy or chemoradiation.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

SBRT seems effective in terms of LC with acceptable treatment-related toxicities. Therefore, SBRT can be considered a therapeutic option at least in selected patients with CC, possibly combined with adjuvant chemotherapy (CHT).

Liver transplantation for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become a common indication for liver transplantation (LT), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and combined hepatocellular carcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) are historically contraindicated due to their aggressive behavior. On the basis of recent experiences, some groups have proposed a clinical trial investigating the role of LT for patients with early cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), defined as a single lesion ≤ 2 cm. The purpose of this study is to assess the clinicopathologic features and outcomes following LT for patients who were initially diagnosed with HCC and subsequently found to have either ICC or cHCC-CCA on explant. Patients with the diagnosis of primary liver cancer (PLC) after LT from a single center were retrospectively reviewed. Outcomes for patients with early CCA were compared with patients with HCC within Milan criteria (MC). Out of 618 patients transplanted with PLC, 44 patients were found to have CCA on explant. On the basis of preoperative imaging, 12 patients met criteria for early CCA and were compared with 319 patients who had HCC within MC. The 1- and 5-year overall survival for early CCA versus HCC was 63.6% versus 90.0% and 63.6% versus 70.3% (log-rank, P = 0.25), respectively. Overall recurrence was 33.3% for early CCA versus 11% for HCC. On explant the patients with CCA were more likely understaged with higher tumor grade and vascular invasion. In conclusion, patients with CCA present a diagnostic challenge, which often leads to the finding of more aggressive lesions on explant after LT, higher recurrence rates, and worse post-LT survival. Careful consideration of this diagnostic conundrum needs to be made before a clinical trial is undertaken. Liver Transplantation 24 634-644 2018 AASLD.

Liver Transplant for Nonhepatocellular Carcinoma Malignancy

Liver transplant is now an acceptable and effective treatment for specific nonhepatocellular malignancies. Worldwide, hilar cholangiocarcinoma accounts for 3% of all primary gastrointestinal malignancies and for 10% of primary hepatobiliary malignancies. For patients who have early-stage, unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, liver transplant preceded by neoadjuvant radiotherapy can result in tumor-free margins, accomplish a radical resection, and treat the underlying primary sclerosing cholangitis when present. Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare tumor of vascular origin with a variable malignant potential. Excellent results have been reported with liver transplant for patients with unresectable hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, with 1-year and 10-year survival rates of 96% and 72%. Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary hepatic malignancy in children. The long-term survival rate after transplant ranges from 66% to 77% in patients with unresectable tumors and good response to chemotherapy. Metastatic liver disease is not an indication for liver transplant, with the exception of cases in which the primary tumor is a neuroendocrine tumor. Indication for liver transplant for hepatic metastasis from neuroendocrine tumors is mainly for patients with unresectable tumors and for palliation of medically uncontrollable symptoms. Posttransplant survival in those patients with low tumor activity index is excellent, despite recurrence of the tumor. Some recent data on liver transplant for unresectable hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer have reported limited survival benefits compared with previous reports. However, due to the high rate of tumor recurrence in a very short time after liver transplant, especially in the era of organ shortage, this indication has not been favored by the transplant community. The indications for liver transplant for nonhepatocellular carcinoma malignancy and its limitations have evolved dramatically over the past decades and will continue to be redefined through future research and investigations.

Management of liver cancer. The Surgeon's point of view

During the last twenty years, a huge progress has been achieved in the treatment of liver cancer and recent strategies include interventional radiology, chemotherapy regimens and surgery. Meanwhile, Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SRBT) has developed in the treatment of all organs with millimetre accuracy, very few side effects and a high control rate. So, SRBT has become a therapeutic weapon in his own right in liver tumour treatment. Many publications have reported encouraging results in colorectal liver metastasis, hepatocellular carcinoma on cirrhosis and peripheric cholangiocarcinoma. It is important that radiation therapists involve systematic multidisciplinary "liver tumour" meetings to discuss therapeutic indications and initiate treatments quickly.

Liver transplantation in the management of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most common primary hepatic neoplasm and accounts for 10-20% of hepatobiliary cancer-related deaths. The prognosis of patients with CCA is poor with 5-year survival rates of 10%, partially due to the limited effective treatment options that exist for this disease. In this review, we discuss the evolving role of liver transplantation in the management of patients with perihilar CCA (pCCA). We specifically discuss the Mayo Clinic protocol of neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by liver transplantation in selected patients with pCCA and describe pretransplant, peritransplant, and post-transplant considerations and challenges with this approach. Finally, we review local, national and international outcomes and discuss future directions in optimizing this treatment strategy for patients who otherwise have few therapeutic options and limited survival.

Trends in pre-liver transplant screening for cholangiocarcinoma among patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the most common hepatobiliary malignancy complicating primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Unfortunately, timely diagnosis of CCA in PSC patients remains challenging.

AIM

To investigate the strategies among liver centers regarding pre-transplant screening for CCA in patients with PSC.

METHODS

An online survey was returned from 46 US transplant centers, inquiring on the frequency of screening, the use of specific tests, or tactical approaches to high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or CCA.

RESULTS

Most centers screen their PSC patients for CCA prior to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) (89%). Serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography are first-line screening tools (93 and 84% respectively). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with biliary brushings is routinely performed in only 30% of the centers. In the case of HGD, 61% would choose close monitoring. In the event of non-resectable CCA, 37% have an OLT protocol, 33% resort to palliative treatment and the remaining 30% make an outside referral. Finally, half the participating centers perform CCA surveillance among their listed PSC patients every 6 months.

CONCLUSION

Screening for CCA among PSC patients prior to OLT varies greatly among centers. Serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography are widely used. HGD warrants surveillance rather than intervention among most experts. Protocolized chemoradiation followed by OLT has yet to become a widely accepted approach. The very poor survival of PSC patients who develop CCA underlines the importance of an effective and universally accepted screening process that will aid in its earlier detection.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in a transplant liver--selective internal radiation therapy followed by right hemihepatectomy: report of a case

Intra- or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas are the second most common primary liver malignancies behind hepatocellular carcinoma. Whereas the incidence for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is rising, the occurrence of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is trending downwards. The treatment of choice for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma remains liver resection. However, a case of liver resection after selective internal radiation therapy in order to treat a recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in a transplant liver is unknown in the literature so far. Herein, we present a case of a patient undergoing liver transplantation for Wilson’s disease with an accidental finding of an intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma within the explanted liver. Due to a recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after liver transplantation, a selective internal radiation therapy with yttrium-90 microspheres was performed followed by right hemihepatectomy. Four years later, the patient is tumor-free and in a healthy condition.

Current status of the organ replacement approach for malignancies and an overture for organ bioengineering and regenerative medicine

Significant achievements in the organ replacement approach for malignancies over the last 2 decades opened new horizons, and the age of "Transplant Oncology" has dawned. The indications of liver transplantation for malignancies have been carefully expanded by a strict patient selection to assure comparable outcomes with non-malignant diseases. Currently, the Milan criteria, gold standard for hepatocellular carcinoma, are being challenged by high-volume centers worldwide. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and liver transplantation for unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma has been successful in specialized institutions. For other primary and metastatic liver tumors, clinical evidence to establish standardized criteria is lacking. Intestinal and multivisceral transplantation is an option for low-grade neoplasms deemed unresectable by conventional surgery. However, the procedure itself is in the adolescent stage. Solid organ transplantation for malignancies inevitably suffers from "triple distress," i.e., oncological, immunological, and technical. Organ bioengineering and regenerative medicine should serve as the "triple threat" therapy and revolutionize "Transplant Oncology."

Survival outcomes and prognostic factors of surgical therapy for all potentially resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a large single-center cohort study

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection is currently indicated for all potentially resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), but the survival outcomes and the prognostic factors have not been well-documented due to its rarity. This study aims to assess these in a large, consecutive series of patients with ICC treated surgically.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on 1,333 ICC patients undergoing surgery between January 2007 and December 2011. Surgical results and survival were evaluated and compared among different subgroups of patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors.

RESULTS

R0, R1, R2 resection and exploratory laparotomy were obtained in 34.8, 44.9, 16.4, and 3.9% of the patients, respectively. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates for the entire cohort were 58.2, 25.2, and 17.0%, respectively, with corresponding rates of 79.1, 42.6, and 28.7% for patients with R0 resection; 60.5, 20.1, and 13.9% for patients with R1 resection; 20.5, 7.4, and 0% for patients with R2 resection; and 3.8, 0, and 0% for patients with an exploratory laparotomy. Independent factors for poor survival included positive resection margin, lymph node metastasis, multiple tumors, vascular invasion, and elevated CA19-9 and/or CEA, whereas hepatitis B virus infection and cirrhosis were independently favorable prognosis indicators.

CONCLUSIONS

R0 resection offers the best possibility of long-term survival, but the chance of a R0 resection is low when surgery is performed for potential resectable ICC. Further randomized trials are warranted to refine indications for surgery in the management of ICC.

Meeting report of the 19th Annual International Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society (Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sydney, Australia, June 12-15, 2013)

The International Liver Transplantation Society held its annual meeting from June 12 to 15 in Sydney, Australia. More than 800 registrants attended the congress, which opened with a conference celebrating 50 years of liver transplantation (LT). The program included series of featured symposia, focused topic sessions, and oral and poster presentations. This report is by no means all-inclusive and focuses on specific abstracts on key topics in LT. Similarly to previous reports, this one presents data in the context of the published literature and highlights the current direction of LT.

Molecular profiling of stroma identifies osteopontin as an independent predictor of poor prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common type of primary cancer in the liver. ICC is an aggressive cancer with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic strategies. The identification of new drug targets and prognostic biomarkers is an important clinical challenge for ICC. The presence of an abundant stroma is a histological hallmark of ICC. Given the well-established role of the stromal compartment in the progression of cancer diseases, we hypothesized that relevant biomarkers could be identified by analyzing the stroma of ICC. By combining laser capture microdissection and gene expression profiling, we demonstrate that ICC stromal cells exhibit dramatic genomic changes. We identified a signature of 1,073 nonredundant genes that significantly discriminate the tumor stroma from nontumor fibrous tissue. Functional analysis of differentially expressed genes demonstrated that up-regulated genes in the stroma of ICC were related to cell cycle, extracellular matrix, and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathways. Tissue microarray analysis using an independent cohort of 40 ICC patients validated at a protein level the increased expression of collagen 4A1/COL4A1, laminin gamma 2/LAMC2, osteopontin/SPP1, KIAA0101, and TGFβ2 genes in the stroma of ICC. Statistical analysis of clinical and pathological features demonstrated that the expression of osteopontin, TGFβ2, and laminin in the stroma of ICC was significantly correlated with overall patient survival. More important, multivariate analysis demonstrated that the stromal expression of osteopontin was an independent prognostic marker for overall and disease-free survival.

CONCLUSION

The study identifies clinically relevant genomic alterations in the stroma of ICC, including candidate biomarkers for prognosis, supporting the idea that tumor stroma is an important factor for ICC onset and progression.

Classification, diagnosis, and management of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are tumors that develop along the biliary tract. Depending on their site of origin, they have different features and require specific treatments. Classification of CCAs into intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal subgroups has helped standardize the registration, treatment, and study of this lethal malignancy. Physicians should remain aware that cirrhosis and viral hepatitis B and C are predisposing conditions for intrahepatic CCA. Treatment options under development include locoregional therapies and a chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine and cisplatin. It is a challenge to diagnose perihilar CCA, but an advanced cytologic technique of fluorescence in situ hybridization for polysomy can aid in diagnosis. It is important to increase our understanding of the use of biliary stents and liver transplantation in the management of perihilar CCA, as well as to distinguish distal CCAs from pancreatic cancer, because of different outcomes from surgery. We review advances in the classification, diagnosis, and staging of CCA, along with treatment options.