Work

Refining genetic and molecular classifications to facilitate breakthrough treatments in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: are we there yet?

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a type of biliary tract cancer and the second most common primary hepatic malignancy after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).ICC incidence and mortality have been continuously increasing worldwide over the past decades1.ICCs are rarely diagnosed early, and there is a high risk of distant recurrence even after complete surgical resection.Most ICC patients present with unresectable, advanced disease, for which the first-line treatment is systemic gemcitabine/cisplatin treatment.This combination chemotherapy is used for all biliary tract cancers and can delay tumor progression in many patients but is invariably followed by the development of treatment resistance.Genomic characterization over the last decade had led to successful clinical development of molecularly targeted drugs in ICC, such as fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) inhibitors for the treatment of FGFR-and IDHdriven ICCs, respectively2.However, these drugs have also shown generally transient benefits in the advanced disease setting3,4.Overall, the 5-year survival for advanced ICC is a dismal 5%.Clearly, improving ICC treatment will require additional progress and earlier intervention.

Source: Gut

DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-327782

Authors: Satoru Morita, Dan G Duda

Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Cholangiocarcinoma and Gallbladder Cancer Studies

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green