Outcomes of concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced-stage unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Combined High-Dose Radiotherapy with Sequential Gemcitabine-Cisplatin Based Chemotherapy Increase the Resectability and Survival in Locally Advanced Unresectable Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Multi-institutional Cohort Study

PURPOSE

The locally advanced unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has detrimental oncological outcomes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced unresectable ICC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 2001 and 2021, 116 patients were identified through medical record who underwent radiotherapy for locally advanced unresectable ICC. The resectability of ICC is determined by the multidisciplinary team at each institution. Overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and prognostic factors were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

The median equivalent radiotherapy dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) was 52 Gy (range, 30 to 110 Gy). Forty-seven patients (40.5%) received sequential gemcitabine-cisplatin based chemotherapy (GEM-CIS CTx). Multivariate analysis identified two risk factors, EQD2 of ≥ 60 Gy and application of sequential GEM-CIS CTx for OS. Patients were grouped by these two risk factors: group 1, EQD2 ≥ 60 Gy with sequential GEM-CIS CTx (n=25); group 2, EQD2 < 60 Gy with sequential GEM-CIS CTx or fluoropyrimidine-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (n=70); and group 3, radiotherapy alone (n=21). Curative resection was more frequently undergone in group 1 than in groups 2 or 3 (28% vs. 8.6% vs. 0%, respectively). Consequently, OS was significantly better in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Combined high-dose radiotherapy with sequential GEM-CIS CTx improved oncologic outcomes in patients with locally advanced unresectable ICC. Further prospective studies are required to validate these findings.

Radiation therapy of the primary tumour and/or metastases of digestive metastatic cancers

Metastatic gastrointestinal cancer is not an uncommon situation, especially for pancreatic, gastric, and colorectal cancers. In this setting, few data are available on the impact of the treatment of the primary tumour. Oligometastatic disease is associated with longer survival in comparison with more advanced disease. Metastasis-directed therapy, such as stereotactic body radiotherapy, seems related to better outcomes, but the level of evidence is low. In most tumour locations, prospective data are very scarce and inclusion in ongoing trials is strongly recommended.

SBRT for Liver Tumors: What the Interventional Radiologist Needs to Know

This review summarizes the clinical evidence supporting the utilization of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for liver tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma, liver metastases, and cholangiocarcinoma. Emerging prospective evidence has demonstrated the benefit and low rates of toxicity across a broad range of clinical contexts. We provide an introduction for the interventional radiologist, with a discussion of underlying themes such as tumor dose-response, mitigation of liver toxicity, and the technical considerations relevant to performing liver SBRT. Ultimately, we recommend that SBRT should be routinely included in the armamentarium of locoregional therapies for liver malignancies, alongside those liver-directed therapies offered by interventional radiology.

Neoadjuvant Therapy for Duodenal and Ampullary Adenocarcinoma: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The role of systemic therapy in the management of ampullary (AA) and duodenal adenocarcinoma (DA) remains poorly understood. This study sought to synthesize current evidence supporting the use of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in AA and DA.

METHODS

The study searched PubMed, Cochrane Library (Wiley), Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCO), and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for observational or randomized studies published between 2002 and 2022 evaluating survival outcomes for patients with non-metastatic AA or DA who received systemic therapy and surgical resection. The data extracted included overall survival, progression-free survival, and pathologic response (PR) rate.

RESULTS

From the 347 abstracts identified in this study, 29 reports were reviewed in full, and 15 were included in the final review. The selected studies published from 2007 to 2022 were retrospective. Eight were single-center studies; five used the National Cancer Database (NCDB); and two were European multicenter/national studies. Overall, no studies identified survival differences between NAT and upfront surgery (with or without adjuvant therapy). Two NCDB studies reported longer survival with NAT/AT than with surgery. Five single-center studies reported a significant portion of NAT patients who achieved PR, and one study identified major PR as an independent predictor of survival. Other outcomes associated with NAT included conversion from unresectable to resectable disease, reduced lymph node positivity, and decreased local recurrence rate.

CONCLUSION

Evidence supporting the use of NAT in AA and DA is weak. No randomized studies exist, and observational data show mixed results. For patients with DA and AA, NAT appears safe, but better evidence is needed to understand the preferred multidisciplinary management of DA and AA periampullary malignancies.

Treatment Response and Survival with Chemotherapy for Unresectable, Nonmetastatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Background and objectives

Limited studies have dwelt upon the treatment of unresectable, nonmetastatic cholangiocarcinoma as a separate entity. Hence, the management protocols are not clearly defined for this subgroup of patients. We aimed to analyze patients treated for unresectable, nonmetastatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Materials and methods

We analyzed the treatment of patients with unresectable, nonmetastatic cholangiocarcinoma retrospectively.

Results

A total of 162 cases of cholangiocarcinoma were reported to our center from 2016 to 2019, out of which 54 were unresectable and nonmetastatic. Thirty patients opted for treatment and were the subjects of this study. Of 30 patients, 24 had hyperbilirubinemia, out of which 10 received chemotherapy after biliary drainage procedure. Out of 30 patients, a total of 16 patients had received chemotherapy, while 14 did not. Gemcitabine/Cisplatin was the first-line chemotherapy administered to 9 patients, whereas 5 received Gemcitabine/Capecitabine and 2 received single-agent gemcitabine. Partial response was documented in 6 patients, and 4 patients had stable disease. The median overall survival was 12.04 months in patients who had received chemotherapy and 6.02 months in those who did not receive chemotherapy (p = 0.005). The median progression-free survival was 6.53 months for patients who had received chemotherapy. The aHR for mortality with chemotherapy compared with no chemotherapy was 0.353 (95% CI: 0.154-0.807).

Conclusion

The study data demonstrate that gemcitabine combined with cisplatin- or capecitabine-based chemotherapy prolongs survival in patients with unresectable and nonmetastatic cholangiocarcinoma. In patients with cholangiocarcinoma associated with jaundice, biliary drainage procedure enables giving chemotherapy. Hyperbilirubinemia persisting despite drainage procedures portends poor prognosis and represents an unmet need.

How to cite this article

Gupta A, Sahai P, Prasad M, et al. Treatment Response and Survival with Chemotherapy for Unresectable, Nonmetastatic Cholangiocarcinoma. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2024;14(1):5-8.

Locoregional therapy combined with systemic therapy (LRT + ST) for unresectable and metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The outcome of systemic therapy (ST) for unresectable and metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is poor. This study aims to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of locoregional therapy combined with systemic therapy (LRT + ST) compared with only ST in unresectable and metastatic iCCA by performing a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to November 3, 2022. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), and the secondary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

Ten retrospective cohort studies with 3,791 unresectable or metastatic iCCA patients were enrolled in this study, including 1,120 who received ablation, arterially directed therapy (ADT), or external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) combined with ST. The meta-analysis showed that the LRT + ST group had a better OS (HR = 0.51; 95% CI =0.41-0.64; p value < 0.001), PFS (HR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.22-0.71, p value = 0.002) and ORR (RR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.17-2.42; p value = 0.005). Subgroup analysis showed that both ST combined with ADT (HR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.31-0.56, p value < 0.001) and EBRT (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.63-0.72, p value < 0.001) could improve OS. Neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, anorexia, and vomiting did not show significant differences between the groups (p value > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with only ST, LRT + ST improved survival outcomes for unresectable and metastatic iCCA patients without increasing severe AEs, which can further provide a basis for guidelines.

Locoregional Treatment in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Which Treatment for Which Patient?

For unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC), different locoregional treatments (LRT) could be proposed to patients, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA), external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or transarterial treatments, depending on patient and tumor characteristics and local expertise. These different techniques of LRT have not been compared in a randomized clinical trial; most of the relevant studies are retrospective and not comparative. The aim of this narrative review is to help clinicians in their everyday practice discuss the pros and cons of each LRT, depending on the individual characteristics of their patients.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict cancer-specific survival with unresected cholangiocarcinoma undergoing external radiotherapy

Objective

To analyze the prognostic factors of patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) who were unresected and received radiotherapy to establish a nomogram model for the prediction of patient cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Methods

Suitable patient cases were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, prognostic factors were analyzed by Lasso, Cox regression, and nomogram was developed based on independent prognostic factors to predict 6 and 12 months CSS. The consistency index (C-index), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were tested for the predictive efficacy of the model, respectively.

Results

The primary site, tumor size, T-stage, M-stage, and chemotherapy (P < 0.05) were identified as independent risk factors after Cox and Lasso regression analysis. Patients in training cohort had a 6 months CSS rates was 68.6 ± 2.6%, a 12-month CSS rates was 49.0 ± 2.8%. The median CSS time of 12.00 months (95% CI: 10.17-13.83 months). The C-index was 0.664 ± 0.039 for the training cohort and 0.645 ± 0.042 for the validation cohort. The nomogram predicted CSS and demonstrated satisfactory and consistent predictive performance in 6 (73.4 vs. 64.9%) and 12 months (72.2 vs. 64.9%), respectively. The external validation calibration plot is shown AUC for 6- and 12-month compared with AJCC stage was (71.2 vs. 63.0%) and (65.9 vs. 59.8%). Meanwhile, the calibration plot of the nomogram for the probability of CSS at 6 and 12 months indicates that the actual and nomogram predict that the CSS remains largely consistent. DCA showed that using a nomogram to predict CSS results in better clinical decisions compared to the AJCC staging system.

Conclusion

A nomogram model based on clinical prognostic characteristics can be used to provide CSS prediction reference for patients with CCA who have not undergone surgery but have received radiotherapy.

The influence of resection margin width in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Some studies have pointed out that a wide resection margin can improve the prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, but some researchers disagree and believe that a wide margin may increase complications. The optimal margin length of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is controversial.

METHOD

The literature was searched in PubMed, MedLine, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science until December 31, 2021, to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of patients with different margin width after resection. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the effect size.

RESULT

A total of 11 articles were included in this meta-analysis, including 3007 patients. The narrow group had significantly lower 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates and recurrence-free survival rates than the wide group. Postoperative morbidity and prognostic factors were also evaluated.

CONCLUSION

A resection margin width of over 10 mm is recommended in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients, especially in patients with negative lymph node and early tumor stage. When the resection margin width cannot be greater than 10 mm, we should ensure that the resection margin width is greater than 5 mm.

Clinical Efficacy of Hypofractionated Proton Beam Therapy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Forty-seven patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) who received proton beam therapy (PBT) were analyzed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of hypofractionated PBT in patients with inoperable or recurrent IHCC. The median prescribed dose of PBT was 63.3 GyE (range: 45-80 GyE) in 10 fractions, and the median duration of follow-up in all the patients was 18.3 months (range: 2.4-89.9 months). Disease progression occurred in 35 of the 47 (74.5%) patients; local, intrahepatic, and extrahepatic progression occurred in 5 (10.6%), 20 (42.6%), and 29 (61.7%) patients, respectively. The 2-year freedom from local progression (FFLP), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) rates, and median time of OS were 86.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 74.4-99.4%), 16.8% (95% CI, 4.3-29.3%), 42.7% (95% CI, 28.0-57.4%), and 21.9 months (95% CI, 16.2-28.3 months), respectively; grade ≥ 3 adverse events were observed in four (8.5%) patients. In selected patients with localized disease (no viable tumors outside of the PBT sites), the median time of OS was 33.8 months (95% CI, 5.4-62.3). These findings suggest that hypofractionated PBT is safe and could offer a high rate of FFLP and promising OS in patients with inoperable or recurrent IHCC.

The reality of cholangiocarcinoma in India- real world data from a tertiary referral centre

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCA) are rare tumours originating from bile duct. Due to their asymptomatic nature they are usually diagnosed when the disease is advanced. Little data exists with respect to their incidence and treatment outcomes in low and middle income countries.

METHOD

A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of all patients with perihilar (pCCA) and intrahepatic (iCCA) CCA registered between January 2012 and December 2018 was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 760 patients, 427 (56.2%) diagnosed with pCCA and 333 (43.8%) of iCCA were included. Patients with localised, locally advanced and metastatic disease in pCCA were 45.5%, 25.9%, 8.5% and that in iCCA were 22.1%, 10.1% and 67.7% respectively. Only 141 (43.9%, 57 - iCCA, 84 -pCCA) of the total 321 patients started on some definitive cancer directed therapy could complete the intended treatment. The overall curative resection rate for all patients of iCCA was 14.5% whereas for patients of pCCA it was only 10.5%.

CONCLUSION

More than half of CCA patients are not able to complete their intended treatment, being worse for pCCA as compared to iCCA. Early referral and centralisation of treatment for this complex disease might be the way forward to achieve optimal outcomes.

Liver Transplantation for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Ready for Prime Time?

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) represents the second-most common primary liver malignancy after HCC and has risen in incidence globally in the past decades. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) comprises 20% of all CCAs, with the rest being extrahepatic (including perihilar [pCCA] and distal CCA). Though long representing an absolute contraindication for liver transplantation (LT), recent analyses of outcomes of LT for iCCA have suggested that iCCA may be a potentially feasible option for highly selected patients. This has been motivated both by successes noted in outcomes of LT for other malignancies, such as HCC and pCCA, and by several retrospective reviews demonstrating favorable results with LT for a selected group of iCCA patients with small lesions. LT for iCCA is primarily relevant within two clinical scenarios. The first includes patients with very early disease (single tumor, ≤2 cm) with cirrhosis and are not candidates for liver resection (LR). The second scenario is patients with locally advanced iCCA, but where the extent of LR would be too extensive to be feasible. Preliminary single-center reports have described LT in a selected group of patients with locally advanced tumors who have responded to neoadjuvant therapy and have a period of disease stability. Currently, there are three prospective trials underway that will help clarify the role of LT in iCCA. This review seeks to explore the available studies involving LT for iCCA, the challenges of ongoing trials, and opportunities for the future.

Radioembolization of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Patient Selection, Outcomes, and Competing Therapies

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary hepatic malignancy and poses a therapeutic challenge owing to its late-stage presentation and treatment-resistant outcomes. Most patients are diagnosed with locally advanced, unresectable disease and are treated with a combination of systemic and local regional therapies. Transarterial radioembolization offers a survival benefit and a favorable side effect profile, with a growing body of evidence to support its use. Herein, we review patient selection and detail outcomes of radioembolization for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, together with mention of competing treatments.

Advances in the management of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary malignancy of the bile ducts with three anatomically and molecularly distinct entities: Intrahepatic CCA (iCCA), perihilar CCA (pCCA), and distal CCA. As a result of phenotypic and anatomic differences they differ significantly with respect to management. For each type of CCA there have been significant changes in management over the last several years which will be discussed in this review. Although resection remains the standard of care for all types of CCA, liver transplantation has been established as curative treatment for selected patients with pCCA and is being evaluated for iCCA with early success. With respect to systemic therapy capecitabine is now first line adjuvant therapy for all biliary tract malignancies after curative intent resection. Progress in exploiting the pathologic mutations and molecular abnormalities has also yielded regulatory approval of targeted therapy for CCA in patients with acquired alterations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor. There is also increased consensus in managing malignant biliary obstruction associated with CCA where pre-operative biliary stenting is not beneficial while self-expanding metal stents have been shown to be superior to plastic stents in patients who are not surgical candidates.

Twenty Years of Radiation Therapy of Unresectable Intrahepatic Cholangiocarinoma: Internal or External? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Both external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and selective-internal radiation therapy (SIRT) are implemented to treat unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of EBRT and SIRT in managing iCCA through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

PubMed and Cochrane database were queried to search for studies published from January 2000 toJune 2020 without language restrictions. Median survival time, overall survival, and radiological response were extracted. Secondary outcomes such as complication rates, predictors of survival, and downstage to surgery were pooled. Patient-level survival data were obtained to generate Kaplan-Meier survival graph. Pooled outcomes were analyzed with a random-effect model.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine and 20 studies including 732 and 443 patients from the SIRT and EBRT groups were included in the present study. From initial radiation treatment, the median survival time for patients who underwent SIRT and EBRT were 12.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.8-14.6) and 13.6 (95% CI: 11.1-16.0) months, respectively. As first-line therapy, the median survival time was 36.1 (95% CI: 20.6-39.5) months for SIRT and 11.0 (95% CI: 9.3-13.6) months for EBRT. Both radiation modalities were effective in downstaging initially unresectable iCCA to surgery (SIRT: 30.5%; EBRT: 18.3%). Patients in the SIRT group encountered more post-embolization abdominal pain (6.9 vs. 2.2%), ulcer (1.0 vs. 0.5%), nausea (1.6 vs. 0.7%), anorexia (5.9 vs. 0%), thrombocytopenia (7.3 vs. 6.0%), hyperbilirubinemia (5.2 vs. 2.1%), and hypoalbuminemia (13.2 vs. 3.3%), whereas EBRT was associated with higher rates of anemia (0.6 vs. 7.5%) and neutropenia (6.5 vs. 11.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Both EBRT and SIRT were safe and effective in treating unresectable iCCA. However, available evidence was highly heterogeneous regarding patient population, limiting fair comparison between 2 radiation modalities. Future high-quality comparative studies are warranted.

Presentation and Outcomes with First-Line Chemotherapy in Advanced Cholangiocarcinomas-A Relatively Rare Component of Biliary Tract Cancers in India

Background  Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a rare group of cancers with limited data with respect to advanced unresectable cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Materials and Methods  The study is a retrospective study of patients with advanced unresectable/metastatic CCA, who received first-line palliative chemotherapy (CT1) from January 2014 to March 2019 at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Baseline clinical characteristics, chemotherapeutic regimens, and toxicities were evaluated. Results  One hundred and forty patients satisfied criteria for evaluation. Median age of the entire cohort was 57 years (range: 32-80). There were 87 patients (62.1%) with intrahepatic CCA, 35 patients (25%) with perihilar CCA, and 14 patients (10%) with distal CCA. One hundred and twelve patients (80%) had metastatic disease at presentation. Commonest CT1 regimens were gemcitabine-cisplatin (GC) in 89 patients (63.5%) and gemcitabine-oxaliplatin (GO) in 34 patients (24.3%). Sixty-three patients (45%) received second-line chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 27 months, median progression-free survival for the entire cohort was 7.56 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.23-8.88), and median OS was 12.16 months (95% CI: 10.08-14.24). Common chemotherapy-related grade 3/4 side effects included vomiting in 25 patients (17.9%), diarrhea in 23 patients (16.4%), and thrombocytopenia in 22 patients (15.7%). Conclusion  The current study in advanced CCAs is the largest of its nature from India. The common regimens used as first line were GC and GO. Tolerance and overall survival appear similar to previously published data.

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.

[Intra and extra hepatic cholangiocarcinomas radiation therapy]

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

Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary malignancy of the liver. This review will focus on the mass-forming intrahepatic type of this disease and discuss the role of medical, surgical, and radiation oncology in managing this difficult disease. A global understanding to the management of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) can help the interventional radiologist understand the role of locoregional therapies such as ablation, transarterial chemoembolization, and radioembolization in the management of ICC.

Outcomes of neoadjuvant therapy for cholangiocarcinoma: A review of existing evidence assessing treatment response and R0 resection rate

Adjuvant chemotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has not been shown to gain significant improvements in survival. Factors contributing to suboptimal treatment response include aggressive disease biology and late clinical presentation. When feasible, surgical resection is the first line of treatment. Yet, recurrence remains high and long-term survival is rare. Neoadjuvant therapy is an appealing approach, with oncologic advantages in allowing the treatment of occult systemic disease and selection of patients most likely to benefit from radical surgery. However, given the surgery-first treatment paradigm for CCA, there is a paucity of data supporting neoadjuvant therapy. This review summarizes the current evidence on treatment response and margin-negative (R0) resection rate associated with neoadjuvant therapy for CCA.

Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Unresectable Cholangiocarcinoma Treated With Proton Beam Therapy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical outcomes and failure patterns of patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma (CC) who had been treated with proton beam therapy (PBT).

METHODS

The authors retrospectively examined 30 patients with unresectable CC who had undergone PBT between November 2015 and December 2017. Survival curves were plotted with the Kaplan-Meier method. Independent predictors of survival were identified by multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses. Complications were assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0.

RESULTS

The median tumor size was 7 cm. Seventeen patients (56.7%) had regional lymph node metastases. The median radiation dose was 72.6 cobalt gray equivalents, and 23 patients (76.7%) received concurrent chemotherapy. The 1-year local control, regional control, and distant metastases-free rates were 88%, 86%, and 68%, respectively. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 19.3 and 10.4 months, respectively. The median jaundice-free survival was 13 months, with a 1-year biliary tract infection (BTI)-free rate of 58%. Patients who received concurrent chemotherapy had a better median progression-free survival (12.1 vs. 4.7 mo). The most common form of acute toxicity from PBT was acute skin reactions which were rarely severe (grade III: 7% of patients). Three and 2 patients had grade III-IV toxicities and radiation-induced liver disease. There were no deaths caused by PBT or concurrent chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

PBT is clinically useful in patients with unresectable CC, even in the presence of large tumors or regional nodal metastases. Its use may induce durable symptom relief, without increasing acute or late toxicity.

Current management of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: from resection to palliative treatments

Background

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common liver primary tumour after hepatocellular carcinoma and represents 20% of all the cholangiocarcinomas. Its incidence is increasing and mortality rates are rising. Surgical resection is the only option to cure the disease, despite the high recurrence rates reported to be up to 80%. Intrahepatic recurrences may be still treated with curative intent in a small percentage of the patients. Unfortunately, due to lack of specific symptoms, most patients are diagnosed in a late stage of disease and often unsuitable for resection. Liver transplantation for ICC is still controversial. After the first published poor results, improving outcomes have been reported in highly selected cases, including locally advanced ICC treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, when successful in controlling tumour progression. Thus, liver transplantation should be considered a possible option within study protocols. When surgical management is not possible, palliative treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and loco-regional treatments such as radiofrequency ablation, trans-arterial chemoembolization or radioembolization.

Conclusions

This update on the management of ICC focusses on surgical treatments. Known and potential prognostic factors are highlighted in order to assist in treatment selection.

The role of down staging treatment in the management of locally advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Review of literature and pooled analysis

Backgrounds/Aims

Approximately 60–80% of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) are not suitable for surgical resection due to advanced disease at presentation. This review assesses the role of surgical resection followed by down staging treatment in the management of patients with locally advanced iCCA.

Methods

A systematic review and pooled analysis were performed of the relevant published studies published between January 2000-December 2018. The primary outcome measure was overall survival. Secondary outcome measures were rates of clinical benefit, margin-negative (R0) resections, overall and surgery-specific complications, and post-operative mortality.

Results

Eighteen cohort studies with 1880 patients were included in the review. The median overall survival in all patients was 14 months (range, 7–18 months). Patients undergoing resection following down staging had significantly longer survival than those who did not (median: 29 vs. 12 months, p<0.001). The Clinical Benefit Rate with this strategy (complete response+partial response+stable disease) was 64% (244/383), ranging from 33-90%. Thirty-eight percent of the patients underwent resections with a 60% R0 resection rate and 6% postoperative mortality.

Conclusions

Although the evidence to support the benefits of NAT for iCCA is limited, the review supports the use of down staging treatment and also surgical resection in the cohort with response to NAT in order to improve long-term survival in patients with locally advanced iCCA.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus cisplatin followed by radical liver resection versus immediate radical liver resection alone with or without adjuvant chemotherapy in incidentally detected gallbladder carcinoma after simple cholecystectomy or in front of radical resection of BTC (ICC/ECC) - a phase III study of the German registry of incidental gallbladder carcinoma platform (GR)- the AIO/ CALGP/ ACO- GAIN-trial

BACKGROUND

Currently, complete surgical resection represents the only potentially curative treatment option for Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC) including Gallbladder Cancer (GBC). Even after curative resection, 5-year OS is only 20-40%. Gallbladder carcinoma is relatively rare, but still the fifth most common neoplasm of the digestive tract and even the most frequent cancer of the biliary system. Gallbladder carcinoma is suspected preoperatively in only 30% of all pts., while the majority of cases are discovered incidentally by the pathologist after cholecystectomy for a benign indication. For improving curative rates in BTC and GBC, early systemic therapy combined with radical resection seems to be a promising approach. The earliest moment to apply chemotherapy would be in front of radical surgery. The encouraging results of neoadjuvant/perioperative concepts in other malignancies provide an additional rationale to use this treatment in the early phase of GBC management and even ICC/ECC. Especially because data regarding pure adjuvant chemotherapy in BTC's are conflicting.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label phase III study including pts. with incidentally discovered GBCs after simple cholecystectomy in front of radical liver resection and pts. with resectable/ borderline resectable cholangiocarcinomas (ICC/ ECC) scheduled to receive perioperative chemotherapy (Gemcitabine + Cisplatin 3 cycles pre- and post-surgery) or surgery alone followed by a therapy of investigator's choice. Primary endpoint is OS; secondary endpoints are PFS, R0-resection rate, toxicity, perioperative morbidity, mortality and QoL. A total of N = 333 patients with GBC or BTC will be included. Recruitment has started in August 2019.

DISCUSSION

The current proposed phase III GAIN study investigates whether induction chemotherapy followed by radical resection in ICC/ECC and re-resection in IGBC (and - if possible - postoperative chemotherapy) prolongs overall survival compared to radical surgery alone for incidental gallbladder carcinoma and primary resectable or borderline resectable cholangiocarcinoma. Utilizing a neoadjuvant approach including a second radical surgery will help to raise awareness for the necessity of radical surgery, especially second radical completion surgery in IGBC and improve the adherence to the guidelines.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03673072 from 17.09.2018. EudraCT number: 2017-004444-38 from 02.11.2017.

Liver resection and transplantation for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

The incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is increasing worldwide. Although several advances have been made in the past decades to better understand this complex malignancy and to develop new treatment strategies, the prognosis of iCCA remains dismal. Liver resection (LR) is the mainstay of treatment but only a minority of patients are amenable to surgery. In most cases, patients with iCCA will require a major hepatectomy for complete resection of the tumour. This may be contraindicated or increase the surgical burden in patients with chronic liver disease and small remnant liver volume. Lymphadenectomy with a minimal harvest of 6 lymph nodes is considered adequate, as microscopic nodal metastases have been shown in more than 40% of patients. Current 5-year overall survival following LR is in the range of 25%-40%. For locally advanced disease not amenable to upfront LR, neoadjuvant locoregional therapies may be used with the aim of converting these patients to resectability or even to transplantation in well-selected cases. Recent studies have shown that liver transplantation (LT) might be a treatment option for patients with unresectable very-early iCCA (i.e. ≤2 cm), with survival outcomes comparable to those of hepatocellular carcinoma. In patients with unresectable, advanced tumours, confined to the liver who achieve sustained response to neoadjuvant treatment, LT may be considered an option within prospective protocols. The role of adjuvant therapies in iCCA is still under debate. Herein, we review the recent advances in the surgical treatment of iCCA and examine its correlation with locoregional therapies, adjuvant and neo-adjuvant strategies.

Cholangiocarcinoma: a site-specific update on the current state of surgical management and multi-modality therapy

Biliary tract cancers (BTC) are rare, heterogeneous malignancies that include cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer (GBC). Cholangiocarcinoma subtypes differ by anatomic location and molecular profile. Currently, resection with lymphadenectomy is the only curative treatment of locally advanced cholangiocarcinoma. Given the high risk of recurrence, multi-modality therapy spanning surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy should be considered. Current data is discordant and there is limited prospective data to support an optimal treatment regimen, though recent studies have demonstrated the utility of adjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiation in specific settings and patient populations. There is a potential role for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resectable disease or chemoradiation in select patients with unresectable, locally advanced disease. Randomized clinical trials are necessary to establish the effectiveness of therapies specific to disease sites, especially with the emerging role of immunotherapy and targeted therapy to actionable mutations.

Biliary stenting alone versus biliary stenting combined with 125I particles intracavitary irradiation for the treatment of advanced cholangiocarcinoma

We aimed to compare the efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting (PTBS) and PTBS combined with ¹²⁵I particles implantation in the treatment of advanced extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHC). A total of 184 advanced EHC patients, who received PTBS (PTBS group) or PTBS combined with ¹²⁵I particles implantation (PTBS + ¹²⁵I group) from January 2012 to April 2017 in our department, were retrospectively reviewed. The improvement of jaundice and liver function was observed in both groups. The postoperative complications, risk of biliary re-obstruction, and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups. Amongst, 71 cases received PTBS and 113 had the additional implantation of ¹²⁵I particles. The jaundice and liver function were significantly improved in all patients, especially in PTBS + ¹²⁵I group. There was no significant difference in the risk of postoperative complications between the two groups. However, the risk of biliary re-obstruction significantly reduced in PTBS + ¹²⁵I group (19.5% vs. 35.2%, p = 0.017). Kaplan Meier analysis showed that patients in PTBS + ¹²⁵I group had a significantly better OS, both for hilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma. Univariate analysis demonstrated that preoperative levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), total bilirubin, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and different therapeutic method were significant factors affecting OS. Multivariate analysis further identified the treatment of PTBS combined with ¹²⁵I particles implantation as an independent protective prognostic factor (HR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.17–0.39, p < 0.001). In conclusion, for patients with advanced EHC, PTBS combined with ¹²⁵I particles implantation is superior to PTBS alone in improving liver function, inhibiting biliary re-obstruction, and prolonging survival time.

Trends in centralization of surgical care and compliance with National Cancer Center Network guidelines for resected cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

A retrospective study was performed to characterize trends in centralization of care and compliance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for resected cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and their impact on overall survival (OS).

METHODS

Using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) 2004-2015 we identified patients undergoing resection for CCA. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses identified time periods and hospital volume groups for comparison. Propensity score matching provided case-mix adjusted patient cohorts. Cox hazard analysis identified risk factors for OS.

RESULTS

Among the 40,338 patients undergoing resection for CCA, the proportion of patients undergoing surgery at high volume hospitals increased over time (25%-44%, p < 0.001), while the proportion of patients undergoing surgery at low volume hospitals decreased (30%-15%, p < 0.001). Using ROC analyses, a hospital volume of 14 operations/year was the most sensitive and specific value associated with mortality. Surgery at high volume hospitals [HR] = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88-0.97, p < 0.001) and receipt of care compliant with NCCN guidelines (HR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.83-0.91, p < 0.001) were independently associated with improved OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Both centralization of surgery for CCA to high volume hospitals and increased compliance with NCCN guidelines were associated with significant improvements in overall survival.

Carbon-ion radiotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma: a multi-institutional study by and the Japan carbon-ion radiation oncology study group (J-CROS)

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for cholangiocarcinoma via a multicenter retrospective study. Clinical data were collected from patients with cholangiocarcinoma who had received CIRT at one of four treating institutions in Japan. Of 56 eligible patients, none received surgery for cholangiocarcinoma before or after CIRT. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Based on the tumor site, the 56 cases were categorized as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC) (n=27) or perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) (n=29). In all patients, the median tumor size was 37 (range, 15‒110) mm, and the most commonly prescribed dose was 76 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) in 20 fractions. The median survival was 14.8 (range, 2.1-129.2) months, and the 1- and 2-year OS rates were 69.7% and 40.9%, respectively. The median survival times of the patients with IHC and those with PHC were 23.8 and 12.6 months, respectively. Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that cholangitis pre-CIRT and Child‒Pugh class B were significant prognostic factors for an unfavorable OS. Of four patients who died of liver failure, one with IHC was suspected to have radiation-induced liver disease because of newly developed ascites, and died at 4.3 months post-CIRT. Grade 3 CIRT-related bile duct stenosis was observed in one IHC case. No other CIRT-related severe adverse events, including gastrointestinal events, were observed. These results suggest that CIRT yields relatively favorable treatment outcomes, especially for patients with IHC, and acceptable toxicities were observed in patients with cholangiocarcinoma who did not receive surgery.

The Efficacy of Different Chemotherapy Regimens for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background: Although gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) is considered as standard chemotherapy for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC), the optimal regimen remains unknown.

Methods: Using Network meta-analysis (NMA), a systematic review was conducted to find the most effective chemotherapy regimen for advanced BTC. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Library for articles published before October 6, 2018. Articles about chemotherapeutic comparisons were included. Hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were estimated while odd ratios (ORs) was assessed for objective response rate (ORR).

Results: The NMA included 25 studies and 3,312 individuals. Among all the regimens, Folfox-4 regimen obtained a superior difference in OS (BSC vs. Folfox-4, HR 3.4, 95% CI 1.7-6.7). XP was slightly better than GP in OS and GS approximately obtained the same efficacy to GP (HR for XP vs. GP 0.74, 95% CI 0.51-1.1; HR for GS vs. GP 1.1, 95% CI 0.71-1.5). Most of the targeted therapies included in this study tend to achieve better results in PFS and ORR but failed to improve OS, in which E-GEMOX achieved the best ORR when compared to BSC (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.00-0.94).

Conclusions: Folfox-4 regimen is likely to be the optimal chemotherapy for patients with advanced BTC and the predominant targeted therapy hasn't achieved significant success currently. XP and GS can be considered as alternatives for advanced BTC.

Chemoradiotherapy for Initially Unresectable Locally Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Surgical resection is the only available treatment for achieving long-term survival in cholangiocarcinoma. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the utility of chemoradiotherapy for initially unresectable locally advanced cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

Unresectable locally advanced cholangiocarcinoma was defined as those in which radical surgery could not be achieved even with aggressive surgical procedure. Fifteen candidates (7 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and 8 hilar cholangiocarcinomas) underwent chemoradiotherapy. Fourteen of the 15 patients received oral S-1 chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was administered with 50 Gy for each patient. After chemoradiotherapy, the resectability of each cholangiocarcinoma was reexamined.

RESULTS

Of the 15 patients with initially unresectable locally advanced cholangiocarcinoma, 11 (73.3%) were judged to have resectable cholangiocarcinoma after chemoradiotherapy, and received radical hepatectomy (R0 resection in 9 patients). Among the 11 patients who underwent surgical resection, 4 had recurrence-free survival and the median survival time (MST) was 37 months. The overall 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates were 80.8, 70.7 and 23.6%, respectively. Among the 4 patients who were unable to receive surgery, 3 died of the primary disease and the MST was 10 months. The overall 1- and 2-year survival rates were 37.5 and 0%, respectively. Patients who received radical surgery had significantly longer survival time than those who were unable to receive surgery (p = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Chemoradiotherapy allowed patients with initially unresectable locally advanced cholangiocarcinomas to be reclassified as surgical candidates in a substantial proportion. Chemoradiotherapy might be one of the treatment options for similarly advanced cholangiocarcinomas.

Treatment outcomes for unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Nationwide, population-based, cohort study based on propensity score matching with the Mahalanobis metric

PURPOSE

No prospective randomized trials have been conducted to date to evaluate the efficacy of palliation of pain or jaundice without treatment, definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), sequential chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CTRT), or chemotherapy (CT) alone for treating unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). We designed a nationwide, population-based, cohort study to determine the effects of different treatments on patients with unresectable ICC using propensity score matching (PSM) with the Mahalanobis metric.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We classified patients with unresectable ICC from the Taiwan Cancer Registry database into the following 4 treatment groups: group 1, definitive CCRT; group 2, sequential CTRT; group 3, no treatment (palliative therapy for relief of pain, pruritus, or jaundice); and group 4, CT alone. Confounding factors among the 4 treatment groups were minimized through propensity score matching (PSM).

RESULTS

After PSM, the final cohort consisted of 844 patients (211 patients in each of the 4 groups). In both univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses, adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs; 95% confidence interval [CI]) derived for groups 1 and 2 compared with group 4 were 0.65 (0.59-0.71) and 0.95 (0.83-1.48), respectively. Furthermore, an aHR (95% CI) of 2.25 (1.89-2.67) was derived for significant independent prognostic risk factors for poor overall survival for group 3 compared with group 4.

CONCLUSIONS

Definitive CCRT is the optimal therapy for patients with unresectable ICC without distant metastasis.

Benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy following narrow-margin hepatectomy in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma that adhere to major vessels

Purpose

To evaluate the role of adjuvant radiotherapy after narrow-margin (<1.0 cm) resection in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) adherent to major vessels.

Patients and methods

This retrospective study included 70 ICC patients. Forty-nine patients received narrow-margin (<1.0 cm) hepatectomy and 21 patients underwent wide-margin (≥1.0 cm) hepatectomy (Group C). Twenty-six of 49 were treated with postoperative radiotherapy (Group A), while the remaining 23 did not receive radiotherapy (Group B). Clinical outcomes were compared in the 3 groups. Toxicities of radiotherapy were evaluated.

Results

With a median follow-up time of 42 months, the 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival rates were 55% and 44% for Group A, 20% and 10% for Group B, and 65% and 33% for Group C, respectively. The OS and disease-free survival in Groups A and C were comparable and improved compared to Group B (Group A vs B, P=0.011 and P=0.031; and Group C vs B, P=0.031 and P=0.105). Multivariate analysis showed that receiving narrow-margin resection only (adjusted hazard ratio: 3.73; 95% CI: 1.36–10.25; P=0.001) was a significant poor prognostic risk factor of OS. Group B experienced more intrahepatic recurrence and extrahepatic recurrence than Groups A and C. For Groups A and B, the 3-year intrahepatic recurrence rates were 36% vs 67% (P=0.133) and extrahepatic recurrence rates were 43% vs 65% (P=0.007). Only 2 patients in Group A suffered from grade 3 toxicities. No patient developed classic or nonclassic radiation-induced liver disease.

Conclusion

Postoperative radiotherapy following narrow-margin hepatectomy seems to be efficacious and well-tolerated in patients with ICC adjacent to major vessels.

Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy improve survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma receiving surgery: adjuvant chemotherapy alone is insufficient in the era of intensity modulation radiation therapy

In the era of intensity modulation radiation therapy (IMRT), no prospective randomized trial has evaluated the efficacy of adjuvant therapies such as adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), adjuvant sequential chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CT-RT), and adjuvant CT alone in resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA). Through propensity score matching, we designed a nationwide, population-based, head-to-head cohort study to determine the effects of dissimilar adjuvant treatments on resectable PA. We minimized the confounding of various adjuvant treatment outcomes among the following resectable PA groups of patients from the Taiwan Cancer Registry database: group 1, adjuvant CCRT; group 2, adjuvant sequential CT-RT; and group 3, adjuvant CT alone. All the studied techniques are IMRTs. The matching process yielded a final cohort of 588 patients (196, 196, and 196 patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). In both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs; 95% confidence interval [CI]) of death derived for the adjuvant CCRT and adjuvant sequential CT-RT cohorts compared with the adjuvant CT alone cohort were 0.398 (0.314-0.504) and 0.307 (0.235-0.402), respectively. A combination of adjuvant IMRT and CT for resectable PA treatment improves survival to a greater extent than does adjuvant CT alone.

Outcomes of adjuvant treatments for resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Chemotherapy alone, sequential chemoradiotherapy, or concurrent chemoradiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Prospective randomized trials have not been used to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant therapies after intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) resection.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry database of ICC patients receiving resection. To compare outcomes, patients with ICC were enrolled and categorized into the following adjuvant treatment modality groups: group 1, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT); group 2, sequential chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT); and group 3, CT alone.

RESULTS

We enrolled 599 patients with resectable ICC who received surgery without distant metastasis. Of these patients, 174 received adjuvant CCRT (group 1), 146 received adjuvant sequential CT and RT (group 2), and 279 received adjuvant CT alone (group 3). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that pathologic stage and positive margin were significantly poor independent predictors. After adjustment for confounders, adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for overall mortality at advanced pathologic stages III and IV were 0.55 (0.41-0.74) and 0.92 (0.70-1.33) in groups 1 and 2, respectively, compared with group 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant CCRT improved survival in resected ICC with advanced pathologic stages or a positive margin in early pathologic stages compared with adjuvant CT alone or adjuvant sequential CT and RT.

Pathologic Response to Preoperative Therapy as a Novel Prognosticator for Ampullary and Duodenal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The prognostic impact of pathologic response to preoperative therapy on patients with duodenal adenocarcinoma (DA) and ampullary adenocarcinoma (AMPA) has not been established.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 266 patients who underwent curative resection for DA (n = 97) or AMPA (n = 169) during 1993-2015 was performed. For patients who underwent preoperative therapy, the pathologic response was systematically evaluated and classified as major (0-49% of viable residual tumor cells) or minor (≥ 50% of viable residual tumor cells). Uni- and multivariable analyses were performed to identify predictors of pathologic response and disease-specific survival (DSS).

RESULTS

For the 79 patients treated with preoperative therapy (DA: n = 34; AMPA: n = 45), concomitant use of radiation (80%, 67/79) was the sole independent predictor of major pathologic response (odds ratio [OR] 8.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.85-58.2; P = 0.005). The patients with major pathologic response had a better 5-year DSS rate than the patients with minor pathologic response (DA: 65 vs 25%; P = 0.028; AMPA: 85 vs 43%; P = 0.016). In the multivariable analysis of DSS for the 79 patients who underwent preoperative therapy, major pathologic response was the sole predictor of improved DSS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.88; 95% CI 1.41-5.98; P = 0.004). In the multivariable analysis of DSS for the entire cohort, pathologic stage 2 or lower was the sole predictor of better DSS.

CONCLUSION

The major pathologic response to preoperative therapy predicted improved DSS after resection of DA and AMPA and might represent a new prognosticator after resection of DA and AMPA.

Effectiveness and safety of sorafenib in the treatment of unresectable and advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a pilot study

Patients with unresectable and advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) usually have short survival due to a lack of effective treatment. This multicenter, single arm, open labeled, prospective study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sorafenib combined with best supportive care (BSC) in these patients. We enrolled 44 patients with unresectable and advanced ICC who were treated with sorafenib (400 mg, twice daily) and BSC. The primary endpoint was disease control rate (DCR) at week 12, and the secondary endpoints included time to progression (TTP), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), duration of therapy (DOT), and adverse events (AEs). Our results showed that the DCR was 15.9%, the median TTP was 5.6 months, and the median PFS and OS were 3.2 and 5.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4-4.1 months; 3.7-8.5 months), respectively. The median DOT was 1.8 months (95% CI: 1.9-3.9 months). AEs of grades 1 and 2 events occurred in 75% of patients, and AE of grade 4 (severe) was observed in 1 patient. Therefore, sorafenib in combination with BSC had an acceptable DCR and safety profile in patients with unresectable and advanced ICC.

Emerging molecular targets and therapy for cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare cancer arising from the biliary tree with a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Recent large scale molecular characterisation studies have identified recurrent genetic alterations in CCA which may be amenable to therapeutic targeting. In this review we explore the genomic landscape of CCA and examine results from trials of molecularly targeted agents and immunotherapy in this disease. Challenges in CCA diagnosis, treatment and trial design are discussed and we reflect on future directions which may lead to improved outcomes for CCA patients.

External radiotherapy and brachytherapy in the management of extrahepatic and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: available evidence

This review aims to summarize the currently available evidence for the role of external radiotherapy and brachytherapy in the management of cholangiocarcinoma. High locoregional disease recurrence rates after surgical resection alone for both the extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) provide a rationale for using adjuvant radiotherapy with chemotherapy. We performed a literature search related to radiotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma published between 2000 and 2016. The role of radiation is discussed in the adjuvant, neoadjuvant, definitive and the palliative setting. Evidence from Phase II trials have demonstrated efficacy of adjuvant chemoradiation in combination with chemotherapy in EHCC. Locally advanced cholangiocarcinoma may be treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. In the case of downsizing, assessment for resection may be considered. Brachytherapy offers dose escalation after external radiotherapy. Selected unresectable cases of cholangiocarcinoma may be considered for stereotactic body radiation therapy with neoadjuvant and/or concurrent chemotherapy. Liver transplantation is a treatment option in selected patients with EHCC and IHCC after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Stenting in combination with palliative external radiotherapy and/or brachytherapy provides improved stent patency and survival. Newer advanced radiation techniques provide a scope for achieving better disease control with reduced morbidity. Effective multimodality treatment incorporating radiotherapy is the way forward for improving survival in patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

Improved oncologic outcome with chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery in unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

PURPOSE

To investigate the ability of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) to down-stage unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) to resectable lesions, as well as the factors associated with achieving such down-staging.

METHODS

The study cohort comprised 120 patients diagnosed with stage I-IVA IHCC between 2001 and 2012. Of these patients, 56 underwent surgery and 64 received CRT as their initial treatment. The rate of curative resections for patients who received CRT was assessed, and the locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS) and overall survival (OS) rates of these patients were compared to those of patients who underwent CRT alone.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 36 months. A partial response after CRT was observed in 25% of patients, whereas a biologic response (a >70% decrease of CA19-9) was observed in 35%. Eight patients (12.5%) received curative resection after CRT and showed significantly improved LRFFS and OS compared to those treated with CRT alone (3-year LRFFS: 50 vs. 15.7%, respectively, p = 0.03; 3‑year OS: 50 vs. 11.2%, respectively, p = 0.012); these rates were comparable to those of patients who received initial surgery. Factors associated with curative surgery after CRT were gemcitabine administration, higher radiotherapy dose (biological effective dose ≥55 Gy with α/β = 10), and a >70% reduction of CA19-9.

CONCLUSION

Upfront CRT could produce favorable outcomes by converting unresectable lesions to resectable tumors in selected patients. Higher radiotherapy doses and gemcitabine-based chemotherapy yielded a significant reduction of CA19-9 after CRT; patients with these characteristics had a greater chance of curative resection and improved OS.

Cholangiocarcinoma

Biliary tract cancer accounts for <1% of all cancers and affects chiefly an elderly population, with predominance in men. We distinguish cholangiocarcinoma (intrahepatic, hilar and distal) and gallbladder cancer, with different pathogenesis and prognosis. The treatment is based on surgery (whenever possible), radiotherapy in selected cases, and chemotherapy. The standard cytotoxic treatment for advanced/metastatic disease is represented by the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin, whereas fluoropyrimidines are generally administered in second line setting. At the present time, no biologic drug demonstrated a clear efficacy in this cancer, although the molecular characterisation could provide a promising basis for experimental treatments. A good supportive care and an early palliative care are warranted in most patients and should be delivered as a part of a global approach.

Is Surgical Resection Justified for Advanced Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma?

BACKGROUNDS

Prognosis for patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) with intrahepatic metastasis (IM), vascular invasion (VI), or regional lymph node metastasis (LM) remains poor. The aim of this study was to clarify the indications for surgical resection for advanced ICC.

METHODS

We retrospectively divided 213 ICC patients treated at Kyoto University Hospital between 1993 and 2013 into a resection (n=164) group and a non-resection (n=49) group. Overall survival was assessed after stratification for the presence of IM, VI, or LM.

RESULTS

Overall median survival times (MSTs) for the resection and non-resection groups were 26.0 and 7.1 months, respectively (p<0.001). After stratification, MSTs in the resection and non-resection groups, respectively, were 18.7 vs. 7.0 months for patients with IM (p<0.001), 23.4 vs. 5.7 months for those with VI (p<0.001), and 12.8 vs. 5.5 months for those with LM (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

When macroscopic curative resection is possible, surgical resection can be justified for some advanced ICC patients with IM, VI, or LM.

A pilot study of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with locally advanced biliary tract cancer

PURPOSE

Combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin is a standard treatment for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine- and cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer.

METHODS

Patients with pathologically proven, unresectable, non-metastatic biliary tract cancer were enrolled. Gemcitabine was administered intravenously at a dose of 1000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15. Cisplatin was administered intravenously at a dose of 70 mg/m(2) on day 1. All the patients underwent concurrent radiotherapy with 45 Gy in 1.8-Gy daily fractions. After treatment completion, tumor response was evaluated by using computed tomography.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were enrolled between June 2007 and October 2011. Their median age was 61 years (range, 38-72 years). Eight patients (44.5 %) were diagnosed with gallbladder cancer, six (33.3 %) with Klatskin's tumor, and four (22.2 %) with distal common bile duct cancer. After treatment completion, partial response was achieved in five patients (27.8 %) and stable disease in 13 patients (72.2 %). The overall response rate was 27.8 %, and the disease stabilization rate was 100 %. No grade 4 adverse events or treatment-related deaths occurred. The most common grade 3 adverse events were thrombocytopenia (33.3 %) and anemia (11.1 %). The median progression-free and overall survival times were 6.8 months (range, 4.5-19.8 months) and 9.6 months (5.4-30.4 months), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that gemcitabine- and cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy is feasible and tolerable in patients with unresectable and non-metastatic biliary tract cancer.

Sox9 expression in carcinogenesis and its clinical significance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas develop through a multi-step carcinogenesis. Precancerous lesions are defined as biliary intraepithelial neoplasia. Sex determining region Y-box9 (Sox9) is required for the normal differentiation of the biliary tract.

AIMS

To evaluate the Sox9 expression in carcinogenesis and its correlation with clinicopathological features in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

Sox9 expression in normal epithelium, biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were investigated immunohistochemically using 43 specimens of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Sox9 expression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was compared with the clinicopathological features. The molecular effects of Sox9 were investigated by gene transfection to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell lines.

RESULTS

Sox9 expression was decreased from the normal epithelium to the biliary intraepithelial neoplasia in a stepwise fashion. In 51.2% (22/43) of the patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, Sox9 expression was positive, and Sox9 expression was significantly associated with the biliary infiltration (P=0.034) and poor overall survival (P=0.039). Upregulation of Sox9 promoted the cell migration and invasion, and decreased the E-cadherin expression and increased the vimentin and α-SMA expression in cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased Sox9 expression may be related to the early stage of the carcinogenesis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Sox9 overexpression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is related to biliary infiltration and poorer prognosis, and it promotes cell migration and invasion, via the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Prognostic Impact of Tumor Growth Type on 7th AJCC Staging System for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: a Single-Center Experience of 659 Cases

OBJECTIVE

Because noticeable changes were made to the 7th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC), we validated the prognostic impact of tumor staging after macroscopic curative resection of IHCC.

METHODS

A cohort of 659 IHCC patients who underwent R0 (n = 539) or R1 (n = 120) resection were selected with exclusion of R2 resection (n = 111). Study patients were followed up for ≥24 months or until death with no patient lost during survival analysis.

RESULTS

Anatomical resection was performed in 599 (90.9%) and concurrent bile duct resection was conducted in 97 (14.7%). Median survival periods following R0, R1, and R2 resections were 28, 12, and 3 months, respectively (p = 0.000). In the R0 resection group, the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year tumor recurrence rates were 36.4%, 57.9%, 64.7%, and 65.0%, respectively, and the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year patient survival rates were 73.1%, 44.2%, 33.0%, and 23.1%, respectively. Independent risk factors for tumor recurrence and patient survival were tumor growth type, tumor size > 5 cm, perineural invasion, and lymph node metastasis. According to the 7th AJCC staging system, the prognostic contrast was marginal in stage T2-4 tumors without lymph node metastasis (p > 0.8). With our redefined staging system with tumor growth types and risk factors including tumor number and perineural/lymphovascular invasion, clear prognostic contrast was achieved among T1-3 stages (p = 0.000).

CONCLUSION

Growth type of IHCC seems to be essential for determining tumor stage. Although the stratification of the 7th AJCC IHCC staging system seems reasonably established, refinements and further validation could improve prognostic predictability.

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.