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Khosla D, Misra S, Chu PL, Guan P, Nada R, Gupta R, Kaewnarin K, Ko TK, Heng HL, Srinivasalu VK, Kapoor R, Singh D, Klanrit P, Sampattavanich S, Tan J, Kongpetch S, Jusakul A, Teh BT, Chan JY, Hong JH. Cholangiocarcinoma: Recent Advances in Molecular Pathobiology and Therapeutic Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:801. [PMID: 38398194 PMCID: PMC10887007 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinomas (CCA) pose a complex challenge in oncology due to diverse etiologies, necessitating tailored therapeutic approaches. This review discusses the risk factors, molecular pathology, and current therapeutic options for CCA and explores the emerging strategies encompassing targeted therapies, immunotherapy, novel compounds from natural sources, and modulation of gut microbiota. CCA are driven by an intricate landscape of genetic mutations, epigenetic dysregulation, and post-transcriptional modification, which differs based on geography (e.g., for liver fluke versus non-liver fluke-driven CCA) and exposure to environmental carcinogens (e.g., exposure to aristolochic acid). Liquid biopsy, including circulating cell-free DNA, is a potential diagnostic tool for CCA, which warrants further investigations. Currently, surgical resection is the primary curative treatment for CCA despite the technical challenges. Adjuvant chemotherapy, including cisplatin and gemcitabine, is standard for advanced, unresectable, or recurrent CCA. Second-line therapy options, such as FOLFOX (oxaliplatin and 5-FU), and the significance of radiation therapy in adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and palliative settings are also discussed. This review underscores the need for personalized therapies and demonstrates the shift towards precision medicine in CCA treatment. The development of targeted therapies, including FDA-approved drugs inhibiting FGFR2 gene fusions and IDH1 mutations, is of major research focus. Investigations into immune checkpoint inhibitors have also revealed potential clinical benefits, although improvements in survival remain elusive, especially across patient demographics. Novel compounds from natural sources exhibit anti-CCA activity, while microbiota dysbiosis emerges as a potential contributor to CCA progression, necessitating further exploration of their direct impact and mechanisms through in-depth research and clinical studies. In the future, extensive translational research efforts are imperative to bridge existing gaps and optimize therapeutic strategies to improve therapeutic outcomes for this complex malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Khosla
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Shagun Misra
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, India
| | - Pek Lim Chu
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Peiyong Guan
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Ritambhra Nada
- Department of Histopathology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Rajesh Gupta
- Department of GI Surgery, HPB, and Liver Transplantation, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Khwanta Kaewnarin
- SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Biodiversity Medicine, Singapore 168583, Singapore
| | - Tun Kiat Ko
- Cancer Discovery Hub, National Cancer Center Singapore, Singapore 168583, Singapore
| | - Hong Lee Heng
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenome, Division of Medical Science, National Cancer Center Singapore, Singapore 168583, Singapore
| | - Vijay Kumar Srinivasalu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mazumdar Shaw Medical Center, NH Health City Campus, Bommasandra, Bangalore 560099, India
| | - Rakesh Kapoor
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Deepika Singh
- SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Biodiversity Medicine, Singapore 168583, Singapore
| | - Poramate Klanrit
- Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program (CASCAP), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Somponnat Sampattavanich
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Systems Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 73170, Thailand
| | - Jing Tan
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenome, Division of Medical Science, National Cancer Center Singapore, Singapore 168583, Singapore
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Sarinya Kongpetch
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Apinya Jusakul
- Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
- Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
| | - Bin Tean Teh
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenome, Division of Medical Science, National Cancer Center Singapore, Singapore 168583, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Jason Yongsheng Chan
- Cancer Discovery Hub, National Cancer Center Singapore, Singapore 168583, Singapore
- Oncology Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center, Singapore 168583, Singapore
| | - Jing Han Hong
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
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