Postoperative radiotherapy appeared to improve the disease free survival rate of patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer at high risk of loco-regional recurrence

American Radium Society (ARS) Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Although uncommon, extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) is a deadly malignancy, and the treatment approaches remain controversial. While surgery remains the only cure, few patients are candidates for resection up front, and there are high rates of both local and distant failure following resection. Herein, we systematically review the available evidence regarding treatment approaches for patients with EHCC, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The evidence regarding treatment outcomes was assessed using the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, and Study design (PICOS) framework. A summary of recommendations based on the available literature is outlined for specific clinical scenarios encountered by providers in the clinic to guide the management of these patients.

Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Quality Assessment-Based Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

The benefits of adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are uncertain largely because existing publications lack clear comparisons between ART and non-ART arms.

METHODS

PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched until December 2020. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Sensitivity analysis was performed for studies with reliable comparability (i.e., no favorable prognosticators in the ART arm that could skew the data).

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies involving 1,731 patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were reviewed. The overall median of all median prescribed doses was 50.4 Gy; brachytherapy or an intraoperative boost of 10-21 Gy was applied in 5 studies. The pooled 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates in the non-ART and ART arms were 69.2% versus 81.0%, p = 0.035; 34.3% versus 44.7%, p = 0.025; 25.6% versus 31.7%, p = 0.115, respectively. The corresponding pooled locoregional recurrence rates were 52.1% versus 34.9% (p = 0.014). The pooled rate of grade ≥3 gastrointestinal complications was 9.8%. Sensitivity analysis performed on 14 eligible studies showed that the ART arms had a lower pooled R0 rate (36.8% vs. 63.2%, p = 0.02) and a higher rate of positive lymph nodes (47.4% vs. 34.9%, p = 0.08). The pooled 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates in the non-ART versus ART arms of the selected studies were 78.2% versus 84.9%, p = 0.143; 38.5% versus 49.2%, p = 0.026; and 27.8% versus 34.5%, p = 0.11, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

ART was shown to improve OS in all studies and in those selected for their reliable comparability.

The Role of Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Nonhilar Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer: A Long-Term Single-Institution Analysis

PURPOSE

Despite frequent use in the clinical setting, especially for patients with high-risk factors for relapse, the role of adjuvant treatment has not been clarified in nonhilar extrahepatic bile duct cancer (NH-EHBDC). The goal of this study is to identify the role of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in NH-EHBDC patients after radical surgery.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients with NH-EHBDC who underwent radical surgery from July 2007 to December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Subgroup analyses were performed to further identify the role of adjuvant CRT.

RESULTS

Three hundred twenty-eight patients were accrued. At a median follow-up of 37.1 months (range, 1.0-144.2 months), the 3-year LRRFS, DMFS, DFS, and OS were 63.4%, 59.0%, 53.2%, and 67.5%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, adjuvant CRT was an independent prognostic factor for LRRFS, DMFS, DFS, and OS (P < .05). For patients with nodal involvement, pT3 stage, tumor size ≥ 5 cm, poorly differentiated tumor, and R1 resection, adjuvant CRT significantly improved DFS (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with NH-EHBDC, adjuvant CRT significantly improved LRRFS and DFS. For patients with risk factors such as nodal involvement, pT3 stage, poorly differentiated tumor, tumor size ≥ 5 cm, or R1 resection, adjuvant CRT might contribute to improve treatment outcomes.

Is it necessary to receive radiation for pT3-4N0 oral cancer without other adverse risk features?

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore the necessity of adjuvant radiotherapy for well-differentiated pT3-4aN0M0 OSCC without other negative features histologically.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a double-center, ambispective cohort study enrolling 250 patients with well-differentiated pT3-4aN0M0 OSCC.

RESULTS

A total of 250 patients were enrolled in the double-center study, 155(62.0%) men and 95 (38.0%) women, and the mean age was 60.1 ± 11.1 years. T staging was classified as follows: T3 (n = 99, 39.6%) and T4a (n = 151, 60.4%). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the DSS between patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy (72.2%) and those who did not (77.4%) (p = .615). Specifically, no significant difference was found in the DSS of pT3N0M0 or pT4aN0M0 patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy compared with those who did not (pT3N0M0: 71.9% vs. 75.8%, p = .993; pT4aN0M0: 72.4% vs. 78.5%, p = .491). The Cox proportional hazards regression models showed that no factor was independent prognostic factor for pT3-4aN0M0 patients, or pT3N0M0 subgroup or pT4aN0M0 subgroup in DSS. And no independent prognostic factor was found for the surgery-alone subgroup and adjuvant radiotherapy subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that adjuvant radiotherapy did not obviously improve the prognosis of pT3-4aN0M0 well-differentiated OSCC without other negative features.

Role of adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy for resected extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy (A(C)RT) may be an important supplement to surgery for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC). However, whether all patients would achieve benefits from A(C)RT and which adjuvant regimen, adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) or adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (ACRT), would be preferred, are still undetermined. The low incidence of EHCC makes it difficult to carry out randomized controlled trials (RCTs); therefore, almost all clinical studies on radiotherapy are retrospective. We have conducted a meta-analysis of these retrospective studies.

METHODS

We conducted a meta-analysis of current retrospective studies using PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials databases. All studies published in English that were related to A(C)RT and which analyzed overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), or locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) were included. Estimated hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for OS, DFS, and LRFS.

RESULTS

Data from eight studies including 685 patients were included. Our analysis showed that A(C)RT significantly improved OS (HR 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48-0.97, P=0.03), DFS (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.47-0.76, P<0.0001), and LRFS (HR 0.27, 95% CI 0.17-0.41, P<0.00001) of EHCC overall. In subgroups, patients with microscopically positive resection margin (R1) could achieve a benefit from A(C)RT (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.27-0.72, P=0.001). No statistically OS difference was observed in negative resection margin (R0) subgroup (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.30-3.19, P=0.98).Significant OS benefit was found in patients who received concurrent ACRT (HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.26-0.62, P<0.0001), while the result of ART without chemotherapy showed no significant benefit (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.29-4.50, P=0.85). In the distal cholangiocarcinoma subgroup, no significant difference was seen when ACRT and ART were included (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.14-2.72, P=0.52), but a significant difference was seen when analyzing the concurrent ACRT only (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.13-0.64, P=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

A(C)RT may improve OS, DFS, and LRFS in EHCC patients, especially in those with R1 resection margins. ACRT may be superior to ART especially in distal patients.

Retrospective analysis of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy of postoperative treatment for biliary tract cancer

Purpose

This study was conducted to compare the outcome of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for the postoperative treatment of biliary tract cancer.

Materials and Methods

From February 2008 to June 2016, 57 patients of biliary tract cancer treated with curative surgery followed by postoperative 3D-CRT (n = 27) or IMRT (n = 30) were retrospectively enrolled.

Results

Median follow-up time was 23.6 months (range, 5.2 to 97.6 months) for all patients and 38.4 months (range, 27.0 to 89.2 months) for survivors. Two-year recurrence-free survival is higher in IMRT arm than 3D-CRT arm with a marginal significance (25.9% vs. 47.4%; p = 0.088). Locoregional recurrence-free survival (64.3% vs. 81.7%; p = 0.122) and distant metastasis-free survival (40.3% vs. 55.8%; p = 0.234) at two years did not show any statistical difference between two radiation modalities. In the multivariate analysis, extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, poorly-differentiated histologic grade, and higher stage were significant poor prognostic factors for survival. Severe treatment-related toxicity was not significantly different between two arms.

conclusions

IMRT showed comparable results with 3D-CRT in terms of recurrence, and survival, and radiotherapy toxicity for the postoperative treatment of biliary tract cancer.

Radiation therapy for extrahepatic bile duct cancer: Current evidences and future perspectives

Extrahepatic bile duct cancer (EBDC) is a rare malignancy that involves neoplastic changes extending from both hepatic ducts to the common bile duct. The treatment of choice is surgical resection, but the predominant pattern of initial treatment failure is locoregional recurrence. Accordingly, adjuvant radiotherapy has been administered after surgical resection based on these rationales. At this time, there is minimal evidence supporting adjuvant radiotherapy, because there have been no phase III trials evaluating its benefit. Relatively small retrospective studies have tried to compare outcomes associated with EBDC treated with or without radiotherapy. We aimed to review studies investigating adjuvant radiotherapy for resected EBDC. Because less than one-third of EBDC cases are amenable to curative resection at diagnosis, other locoregional treatment modalities need to be considered, including radiotherapy. The next aim of this review was to summarize reports of definitive radiotherapy for unresectable EBDC. Patients with advanced EBDC often experience biliary obstruction, which can lead to jaundice and progress to death. Biliary stent insertion is an important palliative procedure, but stents are prone to occlusion after subsequent ingrowth of the EBDC. Radiotherapy can be effective for maintaining the patency of inserted stents. We also reviewed the benefit of palliative radiotherapy combined with the biliary stent insertion. Lastly, we discuss the existing gaps in the evidence supporting radiotherapy in the management of EBDC.

Risk factors associated with locoregional failure and estimation of survival after curative resection for patients with distal bile duct cancer

Our aim was to identify the risk factors associated with locoregional recurrence in resected distal bile duct cancer (DBDC), and to determine the subgroup that may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. Between 2001 and 2013, we retrospectively analyzed 93 patients with DBDC who had undergone curative resection. Patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy were excluded. The 3-year locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS) and overall survival (OS) rates for all patients were 50.7%, and 53.2%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, resection margin, histologic grade, T stage, and N stage were significant prognostic factors for LRFFS. Locoregional recurrence was observed in more than 78% of the patients who underwent R1 resection and were node-positive, and the 3-year LRFFS rate was 19.3%. The 3-year LRFFS rate was 46.9% in the patients who underwent R0 resection and were node-negative with more than 2 risk factors (preoperative CEA level ≥ 5 ng/mL, poorly differentiated histologic grade, and T3 stage). On multivariate analysis for OS, patients with more than 2 risk factors showed a 7-fold higher risk of death, compared with patients with 1 or no risk factor. The important risk factors of locoregional failure in patients with DBDC who underwent resection were R1 resection and positive lymph nodes. Adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered for these patients to improve the oncologic outcomes. Patients undergoing selective R0 resection and those with node-negative status and multiple locoregional failure risk factors may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy.

High expression of MMP-9 is associated with better prognosis in extrahepatic bile duct cancer patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate the prognostic value of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in patients with extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer undergoing surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy.

METHODS

Between January 2000 and August 2006, patients who underwent complete resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy for EHBD cancer were enrolled in this study. The expression of MMP-9 was assessed with immunohistochemical staining. The prognostic values of the MMP-9 expression and other clinicopathologic factors were evaluated in univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Sixty-six patients were included in this study. All received radiotherapy with a median dose of 40 Gy (range, 40-56), and 61 patients received concomitant fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy. MMP-9 was highly expressed in 33 patients (50.0%). MMP-9 expression was significantly associated with locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS) and overall survival (OS) but not with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). The 5-year LRRFS and OS rates were 50.8% versus 86.5% (p = .0281), and 23.3% versus 68.1% (p = .0087) in patients with low and high expression of MMP-9, respectively. Among the clinicopathologic factors, tumor location was associated with DMFS and OS (p = .0292 and .0003, respectively). Nodal stage and histologic differentiation showed significant association with DMFS (p = .0277 and .0060, respectively). Based on multivariate analysis for OS, tumor location was the only significant prognostic factor (p = .0021), while MMP-9 expression showed marginal significance (p = .0633).

CONCLUSION

MMP-9 expression is a useful prognostic factor for predicting LRRFS and OS in patients with EHBD cancer after surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy.

Patterns of initial failure after resection for gallbladder cancer: implications for adjuvant radiotherapy

Purpose

This study sought to identify potential candidates for adjuvant radiotherapy and patterns of regional failure in patients who underwent curative-intent surgery for gallbladder cancer.

Materials and Methods

Records for 70 patients with gallbladder cancer who underwent curative resection at a single institution between 2000 and 2016 were analysed retrospectively. No patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. Initial patterns of failure were evaluated. Regional recurrence was categorized according to the definitions of lymph node stations suggested by the Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery.

Results

Median follow-up was 23 months. Locoregional recurrence as any component of first failure occurred in 29 patients (41.4%), with isolated locoregional recurrence in 13 (18.6%). Regional recurrence occurred in 23 patients, and 77 regional recurrences were identified. Commonly involved regional stations were #13, #12a2, #12p2, #12b2, #16a2, #16b1, #9, and #8. Independent prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence were ≥pT2 disease (hazard ratio [HR], 5.510; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.260–24.094; p = 0.023) and R1 resection (HR, 6.981; 95% CI, 2.378–20.491; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Patients with pT2 disease or R1 resection after curative surgery for gallbladder cancer may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. Our findings on regional recurrence may help physicians construct a target volume for adjuvant radiotherapy.

Adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy in patients with microscopic residual tumor after curative resection for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

PURPOSE

We investigated the role of adjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) in patients with a microscopically positive resection margin (R1) after curative resection for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC).

METHODS/PATIENTS

A total of 84 patients treated with curative resection for EHCC were included. Fifty-two patients with negative resection margins did not receive any adjuvant treatments (R0 + S group). The remaining 32 patients with microscopically positive resection margins received either adjuvant CCRT (R1 + CCRT group, n = 19) or adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) alone (R1 + RT group, n = 13).

RESULTS

During the median follow-up period of 26 months, the 2-year locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival rates (OS) were: 81.8, 62.6, and 61.5% for R0 + S group; 71.8, 57.8, and 57.9% for R1 + CCRT group; and 16.8, 9.6, and 15.4% for R1 + RT group, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the R1 + CCRT group did not show any significant difference in survival rates compared with the R0 + S group. The R1 + RT group had lower LRRFS [hazard ratio (HR) 3.008; p = 0.044], DFS (HR 2.364; p = 0.022), and OS (HR 2.417; p = 0.011) when compared with the R0 + S and R1 + CCRT group.

CONCLUSIONS

A lack of significant survival difference between R0 + S group and R1 + CCRT group suggests that adjuvant CCRT ameliorates the negative effect of microscopic positive resection margin. In contrast, adjuvant RT alone is appeared to be inadequate for controlling microscopically residual tumor.

Salvage radiotherapy for locoregionally recurrent extrahepatic bile duct cancer after radical surgery

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the outcome of salvage radiotherapy for locoregionally recurrent extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 23 extrahepatic bile duct cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy for isolated locoregional recurrence after radical surgery between August 2001 and September 2013. The median disease-free interval was 11.8 months. Salvage radiotherapy was delivered to the recurrent tumour with or without initial operation bed up to a median dose of 54 Gy (range, 45-60). 18 patients received concomitant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 14.2 months for all patients, and 48.8 months for survivors. The median overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were 18.4 (range, 4.4-114.6) and 15.5 months (range, 1.6-114.6), respectively. On multivariate analysis, the use of concomitant chemotherapy was a favourable prognostic factor for PFS (p = 0.027), and prolonged disease-free interval (≥1 year) was associated with a significantly poor overall survival (p = 0.047). Grade 3 or higher toxicities did not occur in follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Salvage radiotherapy showed promising survival outcomes in locoregional recurrence of extrahepatic bile duct cancer. Our results indicated that concomitant chemotherapy was associated with improved PFS. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy can be a viable salvage treatment option in selected patients. Advances in knowledge: Locoregional recurrence is the most common pattern of failure after radical resection in extrahepatic bile duct cancer. In this study, salvage radiotherapy showed favourable survival outcomes without severe complications in locoregionally recurrent extrahepatic bile duct cancer patients.

Risk stratification and prognostic nomogram for post-recurrence overall survival in patients with recurrent extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate post-recurrence overall survival (PROS) in patients with recurrent extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHC) and to indicate which groups of patients need active salvage treatments.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 251 consecutive patients who underwent curative surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for EHC. Among these, 144 patients experienced a recurrence and were included for further analysis.

RESULTS

The median PROS was 7 months (range, 1-130). In multivariate analysis, poorly differentiated histology, short disease-free survival, poor performance status, and elevated CA 19-9 were identified as significant prognosticators for poor PROS. Based on this, we stratified study patients into three categories by the number of risk factors: group 1 (0 or 1 factors), group 2 (2 factors) and group 3 (3-4 factors). Median PROS for groups 1, 2, and 3 were 13, 7, and 5 months, respectively (p < 0.001). Group 1 patients showed a significant benefit from salvage treatment, but groups 2 and 3 did not demonstrate clear benefit. In addition, we developed a nomogram to specifically identify individual patient's prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Our simple risk stratification as well as proposed nomogram can classify patients into subgroups with different prognosis and will help facilitate personalized strategies after recurrence.

Impact of radiation dose in postoperative radiotherapy after R1 resection for extrahepatic bile duct cancer: long term results from a single institution

Purpose

This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of radiation dose after margin involved resection in patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

Methods

Among the 251 patients who underwent curative resection followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, 86 patients had either invasive carcinoma (n = 63) or carcinoma in situ (n = 23) at the resected margin. Among them, 54 patients received conventional radiation dose (40-50.4 Gy) and 32 patients received escalated radiation dose (54-56 Gy).

Results

Escalated radiation dose was associated with improved locoregional control (5yr rate, 73.8% vs. 47.1%, p = 0.069), but not disease-free survival (5yr rate, 43.4% vs. 32.6%, p = 0.490) and overall survival (5yr rate, 40.6% vs. 29.6%, p = 0.348). In multivariate analysis for locoregional control, invasive carcinoma at the margin (HR 2.957, p = 0.032) and escalated radiation dose (HR 0.394, p = 0.047) were independent prognostic factors. No additional gastrointestinal toxicity was observed in escalated dose group.

Conclusions

Delivery of radiation dose ≥ 54 Gy was well tolerated and associated with improved locoregional control, but not with overall survival after margin involved resection. Further validation study is warranted.

Role of adjuvant radiotherapy for localized extrahepatic bile duct cancer

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) after surgical resection for extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer.

METHODS

From 1997 to 2015, 59 patients with EHBD cancer were the subject of this study; 36 patients not undergoing adjuvant treatment after surgery (observation group) and 23 patients receiving adjuvant RT (RT group) were compared. Microscopic residual disease (R1) was in 9 (25%) patients and 5 (22%) patients, and macroscopic residual disease (R2) was in 2 (6%) patients and 6 (26%) patients in the observation and RT groups, respectively. Adjuvant RT was delivered to the tumour bed and regional lymph nodes up to 50.4 Gy (range, 45-61 Gy).

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 19 months, local recurrence was observed in 10 (28%) patients and 2 (9%) patients in the observation and RT groups, respectively. On univariate analysis, the 5-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rates were 50% in the observation group and 54% in the RT group (p = 0.401). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 29.3% in the observation group and 26.3% in the RT group (p = 0.602). On multivariable analysis, however, adjuvant RT significantly improved LRFS [hazard ratio (HR), 0.310; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.100-0.963; p = 0.043] and had a trend towards increased OS (HR, 0.491; 95% CI, 0.219-1.102; p = 0.085). Resection margin (RM) status was also correlated with LRFS (HR for R1 6.134, 95% CI 2.051-18.344; and HR for R2 18.551, 95% CI 3.680-93.520; p < 0.001) and OS (HR for R1 1.816, 95% CI 0.853-3.867; and HR for R2 3.564, 95% CI 1.175-10.809; p = 0.054).

CONCLUSION

RM status was a significant prognosticator of EHBD cancer, and adjuvant RT improved local control rate; thereby, survival rate might be increased. Advances in knowledge: The benefit of adjuvant RT in EHBD cancer was demonstrated via comparison with observation group.