Combining gemcitabine and capecitabine in patients with advanced biliary cancer: a phase II trial

Gemcitabine, Cisplatin, and Nab-Paclitaxel as a First-Line Therapy for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers

INTRODUCTION

Locally advanced, inoperable, or metastatic gallbladder cancers (GBC) are treated with either gemcitabine-platinum combinations or gemcitabine alone based on physician discretion. However, the combination of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and nab-paclitaxel (GCNP) has shown increased response rates and prolonged survival in a phase II trial of biliary tract patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive series of patients diagnosed with locally advanced (liver infiltration > 5 cm, large nodes at porta, abutting duodenum), inoperable, and metastatic biliary tract patients between January 2018 and August 2022 were evaluated for first-line chemotherapy GCNP, in the multidisciplinary joint clinic (MDJC). The primary endpoint was ORR, and the major secondary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS).

RESULTS

A total of 142 patients received GCNP during the specified time period. The median age of the cohort was 52 years (range: 21-79), the majority were females (61.3%), and the majority were GB (81.7%). Response rates were available in 137 patients. Complete response, partial response, and stable disease were seen in 9 (6.3%), 87 (61.3%), and 24 (16.9%), respectively, for an ORR of 67.6% and a clinical benefit rate of 84.5%. The median EFS was 9.92 (95% CI, 7.69-12.14) months. Of the 52 patients in whom GCNP was given with NACT intent for locally advanced GBC, 17 patients underwent surgery (34%).

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that GCNP leads to improved response rates, increased chances of resectability, and possibly better survival in patients with GBC.

Current Standards, Multidisciplinary Approaches, and Future Directions in the Management of Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

OPINION STATEMENT

Biliary tract cancers are molecularly and anatomically diverse cancers which include intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, extrahepatic (perihilar and distal) cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer. While recognized as distinct entities, the rarer incidence of these cancers combined with diagnostic challenges in classifying anatomic origin has resulted in clinical trials and guideline recommended strategies being generalized patients with all types of biliary tract cancer. In this review, we delve into the unique aspects, subtype-specific clinical trial outcomes, and multidisciplinary management of patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. When resectable, definitive surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (sometimes with selective radiation/chemoradiation) is current standard of care. Due to high recurrence rates, there is growing interest in the use of upfront/neoadjuvant therapy to improve surgical outcomes and to downstage patients who may not initially be resectable. Select patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma are being successfully treated with novel approaches such as liver transplant. In the advanced disease setting, combination gemcitabine and cisplatin remains the standard base for systemic therapy and was recently improved upon with the addition of immune checkpoint blockade to the chemotherapy doublet in the recently reported TOPAZ-1 and KEYNOTE-966 trials. Second-line all-comer treatments for these patients remain limited in both options and efficacy, so clinical trial participation should be strongly considered. With increased use of molecular testing, detection of actionable mutations and opportunities to receive indicated targeted therapies are on the rise and are the most significant driver of improved survival for patients with advanced stage disease. Though these targeted therapies are currently reserved for the second or later line, future trials are looking at moving these to earlier treatment settings and use in combination with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In addition to cross-disciplinary management with surgical, medical, and radiation oncology, patient-centered care should also include collaboration with advanced endoscopists, palliative care specialists, and nutritionists to improve global patient outcomes.

DNA Damage Response Inhibitors in Cholangiocarcinoma: Current Progress and Perspectives

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a poorly treatable type of cancer and its incidence is dramatically increasing. The lack of understanding of the biology of this tumor has slowed down the identification of novel targets and the development of effective treatments. Based on next generation sequencing profiling, alterations in DNA damage response (DDR)-related genes are paving the way for DDR-targeting strategies in CCA. Based on the notion of synthetic lethality, several DDR-inhibitors (DDRi) have been developed with the aim of accumulating enough DNA damage to induce cell death in tumor cells. Observing that DDRi alone could be insufficient for clinical use in CCA patients, the combination of DNA-damaging regimens with targeted approaches has started to be considered, as evidenced by many emerging clinical trials. Hence, novel therapeutic strategies combining DDRi with patient-specific targeted drugs could be the next level for treating cholangiocarcinoma.

Evolving Role of Immunotherapy in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers

Simple Summary

Biliary tract cancers (BTC) include gallbladder cancers, intrahepatic, perihilar and distal extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. BTCs represent a major health problem due to their increasing global incidence and associated poor prognosis. The majority of patients present with advanced stages of cancer, where cytotoxic chemotherapy provides modest survival benefit. More recently, novel treatment options have emerged with the development of agents targeting specific genetic mutations of tumors as well as immunotherapy, which enhances the immune system’s ability to target cancer cells efficiently. In this review, we will discuss current and emerging systemic therapy options and the rationale for immunotherapy in BTC.

Abstract

Biliary tract cancers (BTC) comprise a rare and diverse group of malignancies that involve the gallbladder and biliary tree. These cancers typically present in later stages because they are aggressive in nature and affected patients are often asymptomatic in earlier stages of disease. Moreover, BTCs are generally refractory to cytotoxic chemotherapy, which further contributes to their associated poor survival outcomes. Novel therapy approaches are clearly needed. Molecular targeted agents have been developed based on our expanding knowledge of the genetic mutations underlying BTCs and represent a promising treatment strategy in molecularly selected subgroups of patients. In addition, the advent of immunotherapy over recent years has dramatically changed the bleak outcomes observed in malignancies such as melanoma. Our growing understanding of the complex tumor microenvironment in BTC has identified mechanisms of tumor immune evasion that could potentially be targeted with immunotherapy. As a result, different immunotherapeutic approaches including immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and adoptive cell therapy, have been investigated. The use of immunotherapeutic agents is currently only approved for a small subset of treatment-refractory BTCs based on microsatellite instability (MSI) status and tumor mutational burden (TMB), but this will likely change with the potential approval of immunotherapy plus chemotherapy as a result of the TOPAZ-1 trial.

RRM1 Expression as a Prognostic Biomarker for Unresectable or Recurrent Biliary Tract Cancer Treated with Gemcitabine plus Cisplatin

The combination of gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) is regarded as a first-line treatment for patients with unresectable or recurrent biliary tract cancer (BTC). Several proteins including human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT1), deoxycytidine kinase (DCK), cytidine deaminase (CDA), and ribonucleotide reductase subunit 1 (RRM1) are known to be involved in gemcitabine uptake and metabolism. This study was aimed to identify the predictive and prognostic values of these biomarkers in patients who treated with GP for advanced BTC. Tumor samples were obtained from 34 patients with unresectable or recurrent BTC who were treated with GP between August 2015 and February 2018. Intratumoral expression of hENT1, DCK, CDA and RRM1 was determined by immunohistochemistry and analyzed for association with chemotherapy response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Median OS was significantly longer in the RRM1-negative group than in the RRM1-positive (9.9 months vs. 5.9 months, p = 0.037). Multivariate adjustment analyses also demonstrated RRM1 expression as an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients treated with GP chemotherapy. Increased intratumoral expression of RRM1 on immunohistochemical staining may be a biomarker predicting poor survival in patients with GP chemotherapy for advanced BTC. Large-scale well-predefined prospective research is needed to validate the utility of biomarkers in clinical practice.

Efficacy and Safety of First-Line Chemotherapies for Patients With Advanced Biliary Tract Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

At present, chemotherapy is still the primary treatment for advanced biliary tract carcinoma, but it is challenging to balance the efficacy and side effects. Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a better way to identify the protocol, and the advantage is that it can be combined with direct and indirect evidence to judge the best treatment regimens. Therefore, we conducted NMA on the searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

METHODS

NMA was conducted regarding the searched RCTs by comparing progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective remission rates (ORRs), and adverse events (AEs) of different chemotherapy protocols.

RESULTS

We screened 24 studies that met the inclusion criteria for further analysis. Compared with other regimens, the best supportive care (BSC) or FUFA protocol has a worse OS. Folfox4, GEMOX+erlotinib, and C+GEMOX can improve patients' PFS compared with BSC. Patients receiving GP+cediranib protocol have higher ORRs. There was reduced neutropenia grade ≥3 when adopting GP+cediranib, GS, C+GEMOX, RAM+GP, and MER+GP than when using FUFA protocol. The probability of vomiting of XELOX is lower than that of GEM+XELOX. There is a lower diarrhea incidence of XELOX than that of GEMOX+erlotinib. The results of cluster grade analysis illustrated that GEMOX+erlotinib owned a higher ORR and a higher surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) of neutropenia and vomiting but also had a lower SUCRA of diarrhea and fatigue. Meanwhile, both GEMOX and C+GEMOX have a better ORR and a higher AE SUCRA.

CONCLUSION

The NMA demonstrated that chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy has better efficacy and lower incidence of AEs than chemotherapy alone.

Current controversies and advances in the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a lethal disease with a mortality rate that has not significantly improved over decades. This is likely due to several challenges unique to pancreatic cancer. Most patients with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at a late stage of disease due to the lack of specific symptoms prompting an early investigation. A small subset of patients who are diagnosed at an early stage have a better chance at survival with curative surgical resection, but most patients still succumb to the disease in a few years. The dismal overall prognosis is due to suspected micro-metastasis at an early stage. Due to this reason, there is a recent interest in treating all patients with pancreatic cancers with systemic therapy upfront (including the ones that are surgically resectable). This approach is still not the standard of care due to the lack of robust prospective data available. Recent advancements in treatment regimens of chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy have improved the overall short-term survival but the long-term survival still remains poor. Novel approaches in diagnosis and treatment have shown promise in clinical studies but long-term clinical data is lacking. The following manuscript presents an overview of the epidemiology, diagnosis, staging, recent advances, novel approaches and controversies in the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy vs. cytoreductive surgery alone for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with peritoneal metastases: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has survival benefits in patients with intraperitoneal malignant lesions, but there is no study specific to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

PURPOSE

To compare the prognosis of patients with advanced ICC undergoing CRS + HIPEC compared with CRS alone.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective cohort study of patients with advanced ICC treated at the Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital between 01/2014 and 12/2018. The patients were divided into either CRS + HIPEC or CRS group based on the treatment they received. Overall survival (OS), complications, hospital stay, biochemical indicators, tumor markers, and number of HIPEC were examined.

RESULTS

There were 51 and 61 patients in the CRS + HIPEC and CRS groups, respectively. There were no differences between the groups regarding preoperative CA19-9 levels (421 ± 381 vs. 523 ± 543 U/mL, P = 0.208). The hospital stay was longer in the CRS + HIPEC group (22.2 ± 10.0 vs. 18.6 ± 7.6 days, P = 0.033). The occurrence of overall complications was similar in the two groups (37.2% vs. 34.4%, P = 0.756). The postoperative CA19-9 levels were lower in the CRS + HIPEC group compared with the CRS group (196 ± 320 vs. 337 ± 396 U/mL, P = 0.044). The median OS was longer in the CRS + HIPEC group than in the CRS group (25.53 vs. 11.17 months, P < 0.001). Compared with the CRS group, the CRS + HIPEC group showed a higher occurrence of leukopenia (7.8% vs. 0, P = 0.040) but a lower occurrence of total bilirubin elevation (15.7% vs. 37.7%, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

CRS + HIPEC could be a treatment option for patients with advanced ICC, with improved OS and similar complications and adverse events compared with CRS alone.

Current progress in systemic therapy for biliary tract cancers

BACKGROUND

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are heterogeneous cancers that include cancers of the bile duct and gallbladder. Although they are relatively uncommon, most patients with BTC are diagnosed at advanced-stage disease with high mortality rates. Recently, systemic therapy options for patients with BTC have evolved. This paper reviews recent advancements in systemic therapy and the results of key clinical trials in BTC.

METHODS

A literature search in PubMed and Google Scholar was performed using keywords related to BTC and systemic therapy. Studies that were presented in major international cancer research conferences were also included.

RESULTS

The evidence shows that adjuvant capecitabine has been associated with a lower relapse rate in early-stage BTC. In unselected patients with advanced BTC, combination chemotherapy is a standard treatment option. However, with a better understanding of the molecular profile of BTC, there has been a shift toward targeted agents in BTC that have shown promising responses. The evolving data also support the evolving role of immunotherapy in patients with deficient DNA mismatch repair or PD-L1-positive BTC.

DISCUSSION

Systemic treatment options for BTC have improved. The future identification of new targets, novel compounds, and predictive markers is a key step toward the use of personalized medicine in BTC.

Promising Molecular Targets for the Targeted Therapy of Biliary Tract Cancers: An Overview

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death, due to the limited benefits of current systematic therapies and the heterogeneity of the tumor itself. High heterogeneity means that the clinical and molecular features vary between different subtypes of BTC, while the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Targeted therapy, where inhibitors are developed to selectively combine with targeted molecules in order to block abnormal signaling pathways in BTC, has shown promise as an emerging form of treatment for various types of cancer. In this article, a comprehensive review is conducted to examine potential molecular targets for BTC targeted therapy and their mechanisms. Furthermore, preliminary data published from clinical trials is utilized to analyze the main drugs used to combat BTC. The collective information presented in this article has provided useful insights into the current understanding of BTC.

Cholangiocarcinoma: State of the Art

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most frequent primary liver tumor and defined as the heterogeneous group of tumors derived from cells in the biliary tree.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Based on the anatomical locations (intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal), there are various approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of CCA. Imaging modalities, staging classifications, understandings around natural behavior of CCA, and therapeutic strategies have had remarkable progress in recent years.

CONCLUSIONS

This article reviews and discusses the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment modalities of CCA; determines the appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria for liver transplantation (LT); and defines the risk of disease progression for patients in the waiting list of LT.

Radiologic Evaluation and Structured Reporting Form for Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer: 2019 Consensus Recommendations from the Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology

Radiologic imaging is important for evaluating extrahepatic bile duct (EHD) cancers; it is used for staging tumors and evaluating the suitability of surgical resection, as surgery may be contraindicated in some cases regardless of tumor stage. However, the published general recommendations for EHD cancer and recommendations guided by the perspectives of radiologists are limited. The Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology (KSAR) study group for EHD cancer developed key questions and corresponding recommendations for the radiologic evaluation of EHD cancer and organized them into 4 sections: nomenclature and definition, imaging technique, cancer evaluation, and tumor response. A structured reporting form was also developed to allow the progressive accumulation of standardized data, which will facilitate multicenter studies and contribute more evidence for the development of recommendations.

Therapy of Primary Liver Cancer

Primary liver cancer (PLC) is a fatal disease that affects millions of lives worldwide. PLC is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the incidence rate is predicted to rise in the coming decades. PLC can be categorized into three major histological subtypes: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and combined HCC-ICC. These subtypes are distinct with respect to epidemiology, clinicopathological features, genetic alterations, and clinical managements, which are thoroughly summarized in this review. The state of treatment strategies for each subtype, including the currently approved drugs and the potential novel therapies, are also discussed.

Jab1-siRNA Induces Cell Growth Inhibition and Cell Cycle Arrest in Gall Bladder Cancer Cells via Targeting Jab1 Signalosome

BACKGROUND

The aberrant alteration in Jab1 signalosome (COP9 Signalosome Complex Subunit 5) has been proven to be associated with the progression of several carcinomas. However the specific role and mechanism of action of Jab1 signalosome in carcinogenesis of gall bladder cancer (GBC) are poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of our study was to elucidate the role and mechanism of Jab1 signalosome in gall bladder cancer by employing siRNA.

METHODS

Jab1 overexpression was identified in gall bladder cancer tissue sample. The role of Jab1-siRNA approach in cell growth inhibition and apoptotic induction was then examined by RT-PCR, Western Blotting, MTT, ROS, Hoechst and FITC/Annexin-V staining.

RESULTS

In the current study, we have shown that overexpression of Jab1 stimulated the proliferation of GBC cells; whereas downregulation of Jab1 by using Jab1-siRNA approach resulted incell growth inhibition and apoptotic induction. Furthermore, we found that downregulation of Jab1 induces cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and upregulated the expression of p27, p53 and Bax gene. Moreover, Jab1-siRNA induces apoptosis by enhancing ROS generation and caspase-3 activation. In addition, combined treatment with Jab1-siRNA and gemicitabine demonstrated an enhanced decline in cell proliferation which further suggested increased efficacy of gemcitabine at a very lower dose (5μM) in combination with Jab1-siRNA.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our study strongly suggests that targeting Jab1 signalosome could be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of gall bladder cancer.

Treatment of Patients with Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer with Either Oxaliplatin, Gemcitabine, and Capecitabine or Cisplatin and Gemcitabine-A Randomized Phase II Trial

This study is an investigator-initiated randomized phase II trial focusing on the treatment of advanced biliary tract cancer with either oxaliplatin 50 mg/m² and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² on day 1 in a two-week cycle with capecitabine 650 mg/m² twice-daily continuously or cisplatin 25 mg/m² and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² on day 1 and day 8 in a three-week cycle. One-hundred patients were included. Forty-seven patients received oxaliplatin, gemcitabine, and capecitabine with a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 5.7 months (95% CI 3.0-7.8) and a median overall survival (mOS) of 8.7 months (95% CI 6.5-11.2). Forty-nine patients received cisplatin and gemcitabine with a mPFS of 7.3 months (95% CI 6.0-8.7) and a mOS of 12.0 months (95% CI 8.3-16.7). This trial confirms a mOS of 12 months with cisplatin and gemcitabine, as found in earlier trials. With a superior tumor control rate of 79% vs. 60% (p = 0.045), a difference in the mPFS of 1.6 months (HR = 0.721, p = 0.1), and a difference in the mOS of 3.3 months (HR = 0.731, p = 0.1), cisplatin and gemcitabine should still be considered the standard first-line treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer.

Hemorrhagic cholecystitis with rare imaging presentation: a case report and a lesson learned from neglected medication history of NSAIDs

Background

Gallbladder carcinogenesis, frequently occurredin chronic cholecystitis patients, requires radical resection. We herein describe a hemorrhagic cholecystitis case that failed to be differentiated from gallbladder cancer preoperatively owing to the neglected medication history of long term oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSIADs) intake.

Case presentation

A 57-year-old Chinese female was admitted for right upper quadrant pain with the initial diagnosis of cholecystitis. Radiological studies were unable to exclude the differential diagnosis of suspected gallbladder cancer. During the scheduled radical resection of the suspected lesions, the gross dissection showed an interesting presentation of hemorrhagic cholecystitis, without any pathological evidence of malignancies. Additional postoperative investigation revealed a neglected medication history of long-term NSAIDs use.

Conclusions

This case suggests the importance of preoperative review of medication history and patient education on prescription drug abuse.

Targeting gallbladder cancer: a pathway based perspective

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) has a poor prognosis with a 5-year survival rate suggesting the need for more effective treatment strategies. Studying the cross-talk of several pathways involved in crucial cellular and biological processes such as cell growth, proliferation, migration and apoptosis would prove beneficial in identifying key players of GBC progression and targeting them. This review highlights several pathways known to be dysregulated in GBC onset and progression and describes known and potential targets. Within these pathways, there are proteins involved in the signalling cascade, which may be targeted as potential biomarkers and drug targets. Furthermore, the cross-talk of these pathways is investigated in the context of GBC and the implications thereof. A better understanding of the pathways involved in GBC pathogenesis will aid clinicians in the prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of patients. There are significant clinical implications of GBC pathway-based studies as they permit the understanding of onset and progression of the disease.

Pharmacotherapeutic options for biliary tract cancer: current standard of care and new perspectives

Introduction: Biliary tract cancer (BTC), which comprises gallbladder cancer, ampullary cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma, is a rare and heterogeneous entity, with limited approved therapeutic options. However, interest in this disease has grown exponentially in recent years, as a mounting body of evidence has shed light on the complex molecular and microenvironmental background of BTC, and clinical investigations have explored a variety of new agents and combinations, with promising results.Areas covered: This review describes the standard of care in advanced BTC and summarizes the most recent evidence available on the pharmacological treatment of resected and advanced disease, focusing on chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.Expert opinion: The therapeutic armamentarium of BTC has made radical progress after almost a decade of very few positive results. Phase-III evidence now supports the use of adjuvant capecitabine after resection of localized disease, while investigations into improved regimens in the advanced setting are underway, exploring alternative options to the standard gemcitabine-cisplatin doublet. The first positive phase-III trial supports the use of the mFOLFOX6 regimen as a second-line chemotherapy. Targeted therapy against specific genomic alterations can combine with chemotherapy in specific subsets of patients. Despite recent advancements, conducting clinical trials for BTC is still a real challenge.

Fatal Myelotoxicity Following Palliative Chemotherapy With Cisplatin and Gemcitabine in a Patient With Stage IV Cholangiocarcinoma Linked to Post Mortem Diagnosis of Fanconi Anemia

Unrecognized genome instability syndromes can potentially impede the rational treatment of cancer in rare patients. Identification of cancer patients with a hereditary condition is a compelling necessity for oncologists, giving varying hypersensitivities to various chemotherapeutic agents or radiation, depending on the underlying genetic cause. Omission of genetic testing in the setting of an overlooked hereditary syndrome may lead to unexpected and unbearable toxicity from oncological standard approaches. We present a case of a 33-year-old man with an early-onset stage IV intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, who experienced unusual bone marrow failure and neutropenic fever syndrome as a consequence of palliative chemotherapy containing cisplatin and gemcitabine, leading to a fatal outcome on day 25 of his first chemotherapeutic cycle. The constellation of bone marrow failure after exposure to the platinum-based agent cisplatin, the presence of an early-onset solid malignancy and the critical appraisal of further phenotypical features raised suspicion of a hereditary genome instability syndrome. Whole-exome sequencing from buccal swab DNA enabled the post mortem diagnosis of Fanconi anemia, most likely linked to the fatal outcome due to utilization of the DNA crosslinking agent cisplatin. The patient's phenotype was exceptional, as he never displayed significant hematologic abnormalities, which is the hallmark of Fanconi anemia. As such, this case stresses the importance to at least question the possibility of a hereditary basis in cases of relatively early-onset malignancy before defining an oncological treatment strategy.

Medical treatment for cholangiocarcinoma

Most of the patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) present with advanced (inoperable or metastatic) disease, and relapse rates are high in those undergoing potentially curative resection. Previous treatment nihilism of patients with advanced disease has been replaced by active clinical research with the advent of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and a much greater effort at understanding molecular mechanisms underpinning CCA. Three RCTs have recently been reported evaluating adjuvant chemotherapy following curative resection; only one of these has the potential to change practice. The BILCAP study failed to meet its primary endpoint by intention-to-treat analysis; however, a survival benefit was seen in a preplanned sensitivity analysis (predominantly adjusting for lymph nodes status). This, along with the numerical difference in median overall survival has led to the uptake of adjuvant capecitabine by many clinicians. In patients with advanced disease, the only level 1 data available supports the use of cisplatin and gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced disease; there is no established second-line chemotherapy. Previous forays into targeted therapy have proven unfruitful (namely targeting the epithelial growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor pathways). An increasing number of genomic subtypes are being defined; for some of these on-target therapeutic options are under active investigation. The most developed are studies targeting IDH-1 (isocitrate dehydrogenase) mutations and FGFR-2 (fibroblast growth factor receptor) fusions, with promising early results. Several other pathways are under evaluation, along with early studies targeting the immune environment; these are too premature to change practice to date. These emerging treatments are discussed.

Tumor grade and sex should influence the utilization of portal lymphadenectomy for early stage intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Portal lymphadenectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is encouraged for staging purposes, though it is under-utilized for clinically early-stage tumors. We sought to determine if any factor knowable prior to resection influences rates of portal lymph node metastases.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (1973-2014) database was queried to identify patients with T1/T2 ICC undergoing resection. Patients were stratified by lymph node (LN) status. Patients deemed LN negative required examination of six or more LNs (AJCC guidelines).

RESULTS

One-hundred and fifty-two patients were included in the analysis (LN negative: 38, LN positive: 114). Patients with LN negative cancers experienced prolonged overall survival as compared to patients with positive LNs (median 77 months vs 19 months, respectively p < 0.001). Twelve patients had well-differentiated tumors (G1), 92 patients had moderately-differentiated tumors (G2) and 58 patients had poorly-differentiated tumors (G3). Tumor grade (OR 3.9, CI 1.1-13.7, p = 0.031) and male sex (OR 2.6, CI 1.1-6.1, p = 0.022) were associated with positive LNs on multivariable logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Intermediate/High grade and male sex are associated with high rates of lymph node metastasis for patients with early-stage ICC, which portends abbreviated overall survival.

The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in resectable cholangiocarcinoma: A meta-analysis and systematic review

BACKGROUND

The benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable cholangiocarcinoma remains unclear due to the lack of randomized control studies. This study aimed to investigate the possible benefit of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable cholangiocarcinoma.

DATA SOURCES

Relevant research articles published before 1st March 2018 in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane library databases were retrieved. Published data were extracted and analyzed by RevMan 5.3, and the results were presented as hazard ratios (HRs) [95% confidence intervals (CI)] and forest plots.

RESULTS

One prospective and eighteen retrospective studies were included, with a total number of 11,458 patients, 4696 of whom received postoperative chemotherapy. There was a significant improvement of the overall survival (OS) for patients who underwent operation + adjuvant chemotherapy compared to those who underwent operation alone (HR = 0.61; P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses show that the postoperative chemotherapy group compared with operation alone group are indicated as follows: hilar cholangiocarcinoma group (HR = 0.60; P < 0.001), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma group (HR = 0.60; P < 0.001), R1 resection group (HR = 0.71; P = 0.04), LN-positive diagnosis group (HR = 0.58; P < 0.001), gemcitabine-based chemotherapy group (HR = 0.42; P < 0.001), distal cholangiocarcinoma group (HR = 0.48; P = 0.17), R0 resection group (HR = 0.69; P = 0.43), and 5-flurouracil-based chemotherapy group (HR = 0.90; P = 0.66), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy can improve the OS in intrahepatic and hilar cholangiocarcinoma patients. However, distal cholangiocarcinoma patients gain no benefit from postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Prospective randomized trials are warranted in order to define the standard chemotherapy regimen.

Safety and Efficacy of Low-Dose Single-Agent Capecitabine in Inoperable Gallbladder Cancer with Jaundice Post-Single-System Single-Catheter External Biliary Drainage: a Pilot Study from a Highly Endemic Area

Gallbladder cancer (CaGB) in the subcontinent belongs to low socioeconomic status, and at the time of diagnosis, a large number is unresectable or inoperable so the palliative treatment remains the only option. In the present study, attempt was made to see the effect and safety profile of single-agent oral capecitabine in inoperable CaGB in presence of low levels of jaundice post-single-catheter transhepatic external biliary drainage. In N = 35 of inoperable jaundiced CaGB, post-biliary drainage capecitabine in low dose was started when their total bilirubin levels fell to 10 mg% or below. Post-external drainage decreased bilirubin level to < 10 mg/dl within 1-4 weeks, mean 2.37 ± 0.80 weeks. Survival was 1-6 months, mean 3.26 ± 1.46 months. Catheter patency time was 1.92 ± 0.64 months (range 0-3 months). Young age, male sex, level of jaundice at presentation, and duration of decrease in jaundice after drainage were significantly associated with progressive disease course. Poor survival was significantly associated with progressive disease course, young age, and level of jaundice at admission. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to establish that single-agent capecitabine can be safely given in CaGB in presence of jaundice.

The integration of pharmacology and pathophysiology into locoregional chemotherapy delivery via mass fluid transfer

The prevailing paradigm of locoregional chemotherapy has been centred around delivering chemotherapy as close to the tumour as possible and in some cases incorporating vascular isolation techniques. Strategically, the development of these techniques has been rudimentary without consideration for the interdependencies between macrovascular manipulation and the microvascular effects. This review focuses on how new capabilities offered by recent advances in vascular access technology could be exploited to facilitate the mass fluid transfer (MFT) of anticancer agents to solid tumours. A haemodynamic model of MFT is proposed using the physical laws of fluid flow, flux, and diffusion that describe the microvascular effects anticancer agents may have upon tumours through the manipulation of macrovascular blood flow control. Finally, the possible applications of this technique for several organs are discussed.

Novel targeted treatment options for advanced cholangiocarcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Surgical resection remains the mainstay of potentially curative treatment in the early stages of cholangiocarcinoma, whereas for the advanced stage, systemic chemotherapeutics and experimental targeted therapies are the primary treatment options. The molecular heterogeneity of the tumor is based on location, liver dysfunction, and relative rarity of the disease and confers challenges for clinical trial enrollment. The advancements in the understanding of molecular pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma have led to the development of targeted therapies that are currently being evaluated in the clinical trials.

AREAS COVERED

This review summarizes the current understanding and future directions of targeted therapeutic options in the management of advanced cholangiocarcinoma.

EXPERT OPINION

Advanced cholangiocarcinoma has a dismal prognosis; improved understanding of the molecular pathogenesis and advancements in development of targeted therapy offers hope that we may improve outcomes in this rare, but highly lethal cancer. Among the newly discovered molecular alterations, targeting FGFR2 fusions, IDH1/2 mutations and HER2 receptors hold great promise for improving the future management of cholangiocarcinoma. Immunotherapy in combination with targeted agents and chemotherapy may improve outcomes. In addition, drugs targeting the MEK, EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, and ROS1 pathways and neo-angiogenesis may also provide new horizons in the management of cholangiocarcinoma.

Emerging molecular target antagonists for the treatment of biliary tract cancer

INTRODUCTION

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a heterogeneous group of cancers, characterized by low incidence but poor prognosis. Even after complete surgical resection for early stage, relapse is frequent and the lack of effective treatments contributes to the dismal prognosis. To date, the only standard treatment in first-line is cisplatin/gemcitabine combination, whereas no standard in 2nd-line has been defined. Hence, the current goal is to better understand the biology of BTCs, discovering new treatment methods and improving clinical outcomes. Areas covered: The development of next-generation-sequencing has unveiled the picture of the molecular signatures characterizing BTCs, leading to the identification of actionable mutations in biomarker-driven clinical trials. In this review we will cover the genetic landscape of BTC, focusing on the efficacy of existing treatments. Furthermore, we will discuss emerging molecular targets and evaluate the findings of pre-clinical studies. Finally, the encouraging results of clinical trials involving targeted therapies or immunotherapy will be reviewed. Expert opinion: FGFR fusion rearrangements and IDH1 or IDH2 mutations are the most promising targeted treatments under evaluation. In addition, innovative trial design will allow to offer a chance for tailored medicine to infrequent subgroups of BTCs patients based on their molecular features rather than their histology.

Comparison of FOLFIRINOX Chemotherapy with Other Regimens in Patients with Biliary Tract Cancers: a Retrospective Study

PURPOSE

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the different treatment options of patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) who were treated with platinum-gemcitabine (CG) or platinum-5-fluorouracil (CF) or 5-Fluorouracil-oxaliplatin-irinotecan (FOLFIRINOX) chemotherapy.

METHODS

We included the patients with advanced BTC who were registered at the Department of Oncology in Gaziantep University between January 2008 and January 2016. The following data were analyzed: disease control rate (DCR), progression free survival (PFS) of first and second-line of chemotherapy, and overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test was used to compare two survival curves, and hazard regression model was used to evaluate risk factors for PFS.

RESULT

Ninety-two patients were recruited. 53 (57.6 %), 27 (29.3 %), and 12 (13 %) patients received CG, CF, and FOLFIRINOX regimen as first-line chemotherapy, respectively. Median PFS and DCR of CG group were 22 weeks and 56.6 %, and these were 12 weeks and 44.4 % for CF group, and 9 weeks and 41.7 % for FOLFIRINOX group. Median OS of CG, CF, and FOLFIRINOX groups was 28, 21,and 23.5 weeks, respectively (p = 0.497). Second-line PFS of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy group and gemcitabine-based chemotherapy group was 12 vs. 14 weeks (p = 0.988). Second-line PFS of FOLFIRINOX was 20 weeks, whereas it was 14 weeks for other fuoropyrimidine-based chemotherapies (p = 0.190).

CONCLUSIONS

This was the first study evaluating the FOLFIRINOX regimen in BTC. Cisplatin-gemcitabine therapy still provides better survival in BCT. However, FOLFIRINOX can be an option in the second-line treatment of BTC patients who are eligible for chemotherapy.

Phase II Trial of Combination Chemotherapy with Gemcitabine, 5-Fluorouracil and Cisplatin for Advanced Cancers of the Bile Duct, Gallbladder, and Ampulla of Vater

Aims and background

For advanced cancers of the bile duct, gallbladder and ampulla of Vater, there are only a few treatment options. We explored the efficacy of the combination of gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin for advanced biliary cancers.

Methods

From September 2003 to April 2010, 28 patients with recurrent or metastatic biliary tract cancer were enrolled. A treatment regimen consisting of gemcitabine (800 mg/m2 at a fixed dose rate on days 1 and 8), 5-fluorouracil (1 g/m2/day continuous infusion for 4 days) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2 on day 2) was repeated every 3 weeks.

Results

One (3.6%) patient showed complete response, 8 (28.6%) partial response, 14 (50%) stable disease and 5 (17.9%) disease progression. Overall, the objective response rate was 32.1% (95% CI, 17.9–50.6%) and the disease control rate was 82.1% (95% CI, 64.4–92.1%). Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 7.6 months (95% CI, 5.5–9.7) and 11.2 months (95% CI, 6.8–15.5), respectively. G3/4 neutropenia was observed in 44 (24.3%) of 181 cycles and G3/4 thrombocytopenia in 48 (26.5%) of 181 cycles. There was no treatment-related mortality.

Conclusions

The combined regimen of gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin has comparable activity for patients with advanced cancer of the bile duct, gallbladder and ampulla of Vater. Toxicity was tolerable but substantial.

Phase II study of fixed dose-rate gemcitabine plus S-1 as a second-line treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer

PURPOSE

Gemcitabine plus platinum is considered standard first-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer. However, no standard second-line therapy has been established for this disease. According to reports, S-1 exerts anti-tumor effects on advanced biliary tract cancer and gemcitabine is more effective via fixed dose-rate administration. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a combination of fixed dose-rate gemcitabine and S-1 after failure of gemcitabine or gemcitabine plus cisplatin therapy.

METHODS

This single-arm phase II study (clinical trial number: UMIN000005918) set the response rate as the primary endpoint and used a MiniMax two-stage design with a null hypothesis < 7% and alternative hypothesis ≥ 25%. Thirty-five patients were needed to yield a power of 90% and α value of 0.05. Patients received gemcitabine (1000 mg/m², div, 100-min period, day 1) and S-1 (40 mg/m² twice daily, oral, days 1-7), every 2 weeks until disease progression or intolerable adverse events were observed.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients were enrolled, and 3 of 23 first-stage patients responded. The overall response rate was 9.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.7-19.2%]. The median overall and progression-free survival were 7.0 [95% CI: 5.3-8.6] and 2.6 months (95% CI: 1.6-3.5), respectively. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were leukopenia (19.5%), neutropenia (19.5%), anemia (14.6%), thrombocytopenia (7.3%), and anorexia (4.8%).

CONCLUSION

Second-line fixed dose-rate gemcitabine plus S-1 was not sufficiently effective and tolerable in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer refractory to gemcitabine or gemcitabine plus cisplatin.

Gemcitabine and capecitabine for advanced biliary cancer

BACKGROUND

Gemcitabine with capecitabine (gem-cap) is an established regimen for advanced biliary cancer (ABC) supported by our previously reported phase II trial. Here, we provide our updated experience.

METHODS

Single institution, retrospective study from 2005 to 2015 of ABC treated with gem-cap.

RESULTS

A total of 372 patients with ABC were identified, of whom 227 (61.0%) were treated with chemotherapy. 153 patients (67.4%) received gem-cap, of which 129 (56.8%) received it in the first line. Thirty two point six percent (42/129) were locally advanced, 67.4% (87/129) had metastatic disease, and 18.6% (24/129) received it as adjuvant therapy. Disease sites included 48.8% [63] intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC), 24.0% [31] extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) and 27.1% [35] gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). Median follow-up was 49.7 months (mo). The median PFS and OS were 8.0 mo [95% confidence intervals (CI): 6.0-9.3] and 13.0 mo (95% CI: 10.7-17.4), respectively. Overall, 53.5% (69/129) experienced a grade 3/4 toxicity. The most common (35.7%) was a hematologic toxicity (neutropenia or thrombocytopenia) followed by infection (25.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Gem-cap provides similar survival outcomes to gemcitabine/cisplatin based on historical comparison to the ABC-2 trial (median PFS =8.0 mo and OS =11.7 mo). Gem-cap may offer the advantage of fewer adverse events compared to the levels reported in ABC-2 (grade 3/4 events 70.7%).

Combination Therapy with Capecitabine and Cisplatin as Second-Line Chemotherapy for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer

Background/Aims: Palliative chemotherapy is the main treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, there is a lack of established second-line chemotherapy to treat disease progression after first-line chemotherapy. We examined combination therapy with capecitabine and cisplatin for advanced BTC as a second-line regimen. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of 40 patients diagnosed with BTC who received palliative second-line chemotherapy with capecitabine and cisplatin. Results: The median overall survival from the start of second-line chemotherapy was 6.3 months. The median overall survival from diagnosis was 17.9 months. The median progression-free survival during second-line chemotherapy was 2.3 months. Nine (30%) patients experienced adverse events of grade ≥3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score was an independent predictor of adverse events. Conclusions: Combination therapy with capecitabine and cisplatin may be an option for second-line chemotherapy in some of patients with advanced BTC.

Peritoneal metastases of rare carcinomas treated with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC - A single center case series

Introduction

In selected cases, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an established treatment for patients suffering from peritoneal metastases from colorectal, ovarian, gastric or appendiceal origin. The effectiveness of this extensive has not been elucidated within other rare diseases by now.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients treated with CRS for peritoneal carcinomatosis during the period between July 2010 and September 2015. Exclusion criteria were adenocarcinomas of the stomach, colon, neoplasms of the appendix, mesothelioma and ovarian cancers. Aim of this study was to examine the feasibility, complication rate and survival of patients with rare diseases.

Results

A total of 14 Patients were included: Four rare gynecological tumors, three adenocarcinomas of the small intestine, three retroperitoneal sarcomas, one cholangiocellular carcinoma, one neuroendocrine gastric tumor, one malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor and one cancer of unknown primary syndrome. In 12 of 14 patients a macroscopically complete tumorresection could be achieved. No patient died during hospitalization. Seven of 14 patients experienced general complication of grade III according to NCI CTCAE V4.0, while two experienced complications of grade IV. Median follow-up and one year overall survival were 15.5 months and 46.8%, respectively.

Conclusion

For patients with rare tumors, CRS and HIPEC is feasible with an acceptable perioperative morbidity and mortality. To improve knowledge in patient selection and outcome, rare tumors treated with CRS and HIPEC should be documented in central databases (as for example BIG RENAPE, Pierre-Benite, France).

•

The difficulties in deciding of whether to perform CRS and HIPEC for PSM arising from unusual malignancies are remaining.

•

Perioperative morbidity for extensive surgical treatment and HIPEC is acceptable in specialized PSM centers.

•

The prospective registration in tumor registries could help to better define the indications for CRS and HIPEC in rare PSM.

Doval D. Gemcitabine and cisplatin in inoperable, loco-regionally advanced and metastatic gallbladder cancer: A study from Northern India cancer institute

Aims: The primary objective of this study was to determine the response rates of the gemcitabine and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in treatment naive patients with inoperable gall bladder cancer. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the toxicity, progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival. Materials and Methods: Treatment naive patients with histologically proven inoperable gallbladder cancer treated with gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy between March 2010 and December 2014 were included in this retrospective study. The dose of gemcitabine and cisplatin was 1 g/m2 on day 1 and 8, and 75 mg/m2 on day 1, in a 21-day cycle respectively. Computed tomography scan was used for response assessment. Results: There were 32 men and 59 women with a median age of 52 years (range 30–67 years). Of the 91 patients, 9 (9.9%) patients achieved a complete response and 41 (45.1%) patients achieved a partial response for an overall response rate of 55%. The median number of chemotherapy cycles administered were 6 (range 1–9). The median progression free survival (PFS) was 5.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.9–7.9 months], with one year survival rate of 34.1%. Common toxicity criteria grade 3 or 4 anemia was seen in 4 (4.4%) and 2 (2.2%) patients respectively. Grade 3 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia was observed in 10 (10.9%) and 9 (9.9%) patients respectively. Conclusion: The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin is active in advanced gallbladder carcinoma with mild toxicity.

Chronic Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy in a Primary Ampullary Adenocarcinoma Patient without Significant Peripheral Neuropathy: Case Report and Literature Review

Peripheral neuropathy is the most common dose-limiting toxicity associated with oxaliplatin. We report on a 61-year-old female patient with advanced primary ampullary adenocarcinoma who received 35 cycles of FOLFIRINOX (5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) chemotherapy. The patient has tolerated this treatment without developing significant peripheral neuropathy.

[Chemotherapy for Biliary Tract Cancer]

The term of biliary tract cancer (BTC) refers to all tumors that arise from the biliary tract or the biliary drainage system, including the intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts as well as the gallbladder. BTCs are aggressive tumors with limited treatment options and poor overall survival. Currently, surgery remains to be the only potentially curative treatment, and most patients develop recurrence. For advanced tumors, only limited effective treatment modalities exist today. Gemcitabine plus cisplatin is considered as a standard option for advanced biliary cancer. A randomized phase III trial (ABC-02 trial) showed superiority of gemcitabine plus cisplatin over gemcitabine alone. In that study, they showed that after a median follow-up of 8.2 months, the median overall survival was 8.1 months in the gemcitabine-only group and 11.7 months in the gemcitabine plus cisplatin group (p<0.001). However, while this is a definite advancement, a 3-month survival extension among patients with BTC is modest at best. Moreover, this regimen has not been compared head-to-head with other gemcitabine based combinations. Gemcitabine monotherapy, 5-fluorouracil plus leucovorin, and single-agent capecitabine are all reasonable options for patients with a borderline performance status. Recent advancements have provided new insight into the genomic landscape of BTCs, and thus, it remains unclear whether combined treatment with molecular targeted agents or other cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents may also be effective against advanced BTC.

Targeted therapy in biliary tract cancers-current limitations and potentials in the future

Biliary tract cancers (BTC)/Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive biliary tract epithelial malignancy from varying locations within the biliary tree with cholangiocyte depreciation., including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) (iCCA), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA) and gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). The disease is largely heterogeneous in etiology, epidemiology, and molecular profile. There are limited treatment options and low survival rates for those patients with advanced or metastatic disease. Systemic treatment is confined to cytotoxic chemotherapy with the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin. Lack of a stereotype genetic signature makes difficult in identification of potential actionable target directly, which may also explain lack of obvious clinic benefit with target oriented agents from current studies. It is crucial to understand of BTC carcinogenesis, tumor-stroma interactions, and key molecular pathways, and herald to establish targeted, individualized therapies for the heterogeneous disease, and eventually to improve the survival and overall outcome of patients.

Chemotherapy in patients with hepatobiliary cancers and abnormal hepatic function

Sorafenib and cisplatin plus gemcitabine currently represent first-line treatment standards in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary cancer, respectively. Conventional cytotoxic agents (monotherapy or combination therapy) have demonstrated activity in the second-line setting or in those in which first-line agents are contraindicated. A strategy for safe yet effective administration of such systemic therapies in patients with advanced hepatobiliary cancer and abnormal liver function needs to be strongly considered. Here, we highlight the safety and tolerability of systemic therapies routinely used for the treatment of advanced hepatobiliary cancer in patients with hepatic dysfunction. Based on data from available clinical studies, we review dosing strategies recommended for chemotherapy and targeted therapy in those with liver dysfunction. Dose modifications for many agents in this population remain empiric due to limited clinical evidence. Future dedicated phase I studies are needed to provide further dosing considerations for combination therapy in those with abnormal liver function in which data is lacking.

Long term responders to palliative chemotherapy for advanced biliary tract cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) are often treated with palliative chemotherapy (PC). Standard PC since 2010 is a cisplatin/gemcitabine doublet, with median overall survival (OS) of 11.7 months from the ABC-02 trial. Prior to this, our institutional standard was gemcitabine and fluoropyrimidine. The ABC-02 study used 8 cycles of PC as standard with treatment stopped even in the absence of disease progression, but some patients may benefit from continuing PC longer than 8 cycles.

METHODS

Patients treated with at least 2 cycles of PC for advanced BTC in Princess Margaret Cancer Centre between 1987 and 2015 were included, and divided into 2 groups for analysis-long-term responders (LTR) who received 9 or more cycles, and controls (2-8 cycles). Data was collected on demographics, clinicopathological features, PC regimen, toxicities, and survival. The primary outcome measure was OS, with secondary analyses including progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity rates between groups.

RESULTS

A total of 382 patients were identified, 123 who met the criteria for LTR and 259 who were included as controls. The baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were similar, although more patients in the control group had gallbladder cancer or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma than LTR (P=0.024), and more patients in the LTR group were treated with combination chemotherapy regimens (93% vs. 82% in controls, P=0.003). The LTR patients had significantly longer PFS (median 13.3 vs. 4.1 months, P<0.001) and longer OS than controls (median 22.1 vs. 9.2 months, P<0.001). In LTR patients, 15% had a break from chemotherapy of 3 months or more and restarted the same regimen. The LTR patients reported higher rates of nausea, cutaneous and hematologic toxicity, but also more frequently went on to receive second-line chemotherapy (47% vs. 33%, P=0.007). In multivariable analysis of OS, LTR, good performance status and intrahepatic site of cancer were associated with better survival.

CONCLUSIONS

From this institutional dataset, a significant proportion of patients continued chemotherapy past 8 cycles, and appeared to derive benefit from longer duration of treatment. Toxicity rates were higher in this group, but manageable as evidenced by second-line treatment rates. Discontinuation of chemotherapy for reasons other than toxicity or progression may result in loss of disease control and impact survival in this population; these data suggest the use of continued chemotherapy to disease progression in patients with advanced BTC is a favorable option.

Signaling pathways as therapeutic targets in biliary tract cancer

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of biliary tract cancer (BTC) is increasing, and the disease is frequently diagnosed during advanced stages, leading to poor overall survival. Limited treatment options are currently available and novel therapeutic approaches are needed. A number of completed clinical trials have evaluated the role of chemotherapy for BTC, demonstrating a marginal benefit. Thus, there is increased interest in applying targeted therapies for this disease. Areas covered: This review article summarizes the role of chemotherapeutic regimens for the treatment of BTC, and highlights key signal transduction pathways of interest for targeted inhibition. Of particular interest are the MEK or MAP2K (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase), phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) pathways. We discuss the available data on several promising inhibitors of these pathways, both in the pre-clinical and clinical settings. Expert opinion: Future treatment strategies should address targeting of MEK, PI3K and STAT3 for BTC, with a focus on combined therapeutic approaches.

GUIDELINE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF BILE DUCT CANCERS BY THE BRAZILIAN GASTROINTESTINAL TUMOR GROUP

The Brazilian Gastrointestinal Tumor Group developed guidelines for the surgical and clinical management of patients with billiary cancers. The multidisciplinary panel was composed of experts in the field of radiology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiotherapy, endoscopy and pathology. The panel utilized the most recent literature to develop a series of evidence-based recommendations on different treatment and diagnostic strategies for cholangiocarcinomas and gallbladder cancers.

Systemic Therapy of Cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is the second most common primary malignant liver disease. During the last decades, various novel therapies have been introduced in the field of oncology; nevertheless, the number of treatment options for CC is still limited.

METHODS

In this article, current palliative chemotherapy concepts as well as new drug therapies are outlined.

RESULTS

Gemcitabine and cisplatin are the standard treatment of care for patients with inoperable CC. Second-line chemotherapy is not standardized yet and is dependent on the first-line compounds. Antibodies against VEGFR and EGFR showed mixed or negative results. New molecular systemic treatments are not established yet.

CONCLUSION

Many clinical trials are still ongoing and new therapeutic strategies, including immunotherapies, are under active investigation.

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.