ASO Author Reflections: Routine Lymphadenectomy Should be Recommended Regardless of Morphologic Subtype of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Albumin-Bilirubin Grade and Tumor Burden Score Predict Outcomes Among Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma After Hepatic Resection: a Multi-Institutional Analysis

BACKGROUND

The prognostic role of tumor burden score (TBS) relative to albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade among patients undergoing curative-intent resection of ICC has not been examined.

METHODS

We identified patients who underwent curative-intent resection for ICC between 1990 and 2017 from a multi-institutional database. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess the effect of TBS relative to ALBI grade on both short- and long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

Among 724 patients, 360 (49.7%) patients had low TBS and low ALBI grade, 142 (19.6%) patients had low TBS and high ALBI grade, 138 (19.1%) patients had high TBS and low ALBI grade, and 84 patients (11.6%) had high TBS and high ALBI grade. Decreased tumor burden was associated with better long-term outcomes among patients with both low (5-year OS; low TBS vs. high TBS: 52.4% vs 21.4%; p < 0.001) and high ALBI grade (5-year OS; low TBS vs. high TBS: 40.7% vs 12.0%; p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, higher ALBI grade was associated with greater odds of an extended hospital LOS (> 10 days) (OR 2.80, 95%CI 1.62-4.82; p < 0.001), perioperative transfusion (OR 2.04, 95%CI 1.25-3.36; p = 0.005), 90-day mortality (OR 2.56, 95%CI 1.12-5.81; p = 0.025), as well as a major complication (OR 1.99, 95%CI 1.13-3.49; p = 0.016) among patients with similar tumor burden. Of note, patients with high TBS and high ALBI grade had markedly worse overall survival compared with patients who had low TBS and low ALBI grade disease (HR 2.27; 95%CI 1.44-3.59; p < 0.001). Importantly, high TBS and high ALBI grade were strongly associated with both early recurrence (88.1%%) and 5-year risk of death (96.4%).

CONCLUSION

Both TBS (i.e., tumor morphology) and ALBI grade (i.e., hepatic function reserve) were strong predictors of outcomes among patients undergoing ICC resection. There was an interplay between TBS and ALBI grade relative to patient prognosis after hepatic resection of ICC with high ALBI grade predicting worse outcomes among ICC patients with different TBS.

Textbook oncologic outcomes and regionalization among patients undergoing hepatic resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Textbook oncologic outcome (TOO) and its association with regionalization of care for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) have not been evaluated.

METHODS

We identified patients who underwent hepatic resection for ICC between 2004 and 2018 from the National Cancer Database. Facilities were categorized by annual hepatectomy volume for ICC. TOO was defined as no 90-day mortality, margin-negative resection, no prolonged hospitalization, no 30-day readmission, receipt of appropriate adjuvant therapy, and adequate lymphadenectomy. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate the association between annual hepatectomy volume and TOO.

RESULTS

A total of 5359 patients underwent liver resection for ICC. TOO was achieved in 11.2% (n = 599) of patients. Inadequate lymphadenectomy was the largest impediment to achieving TOO. After adjusting for patient, pathologic, and facility characteristics, high volume facilities had 67% increased odds of achieving TOO (Ref.: low volume; high volume: odds ratio 1.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.24-2.25; p < 0.001). Patients treated at high-volume centers who achieved a TOO had better overall survival (OS) versus patients treated at low-volume facilities (low volume vs. high volume; median OS, 47.3 vs. 71.1 months, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A composite oncologic measure, TOO, provides a comprehensive insight into the performance of liver resection and regionalization of surgical care for ICC.

Recurrent Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma - Review

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second-most common primary liver malignancy after hepatocellular carcinoma. While surgical resection with negative margin is the only curative treatment, ICC has very high rate of recurrence, up to 60-70% after curative resection. We reviewed the current data available on risk factors for ICC recurrence, recurrence pattern (location and timing), treatment options, and future directions. The risk factors for recurrence include elevated preoperative CA19-9, presence of liver cirrhosis, nodal metastasis, positive margins, and vascular invasion. Understanding different recurrence patterns, timing course, and risk factors for early recurrence is important to tailor postoperative surveillance and select treatment strategies including systemic or locoregional therapy. Re-resection can be considered for a selected patient population at experienced centers, and can yield long-term survival. ICC remains a dismal disease given the high likelihood of recurrence. Advances in our understanding of the genomic landscape of ICC are beginning to identify targetable alterations in ICC in subsets of patients that allow for personalized treatment.