Hepatobiliary and extra-hepatic malignancies in primary sclerosing cholangitis

Genetic alterations during the neoplastic cascade towards cholangiocarcinoma in primary sclerosing cholangitis

Carcinogenesis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)-associated cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is largely unexplored. Improved understanding of the molecular events involved may guide development of novel avenues for rational clinical management. We aimed to assess the genetic alterations during progression of the neoplastic cascade from biliary dysplasia towards CCA in PSC. Forty-four resection specimens or biopsies of PSC patients with biliary dysplasia (n = 2) and/or CCA (n = 42) were included. DNA was extracted from sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks with dysplasia (n = 23), CCA (n = 69), and nonneoplastic tissue (n = 28). A custom-made next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel of 28 genes was used for mutation and copy number variation (CNV) detection. In addition, CNVs of CDKN2A, EGFR, MCL1, and MYC were examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Alterations in 16 low-grade dysplasia samples included loss of FGFR1 (19%), CDKN2A (13%), and SMAD4 (6%), amplification of FGFR3 (6%), EGFR (6%), and ERBB2 (6%), and mutations in SMAD4 (13%). High-grade dysplasia (n = 7) is characterized by MYC amplification (43%), and mutations in ERBB2 (71%) and TP53 (86%). TP53 mutations are the most common aberrations in PSC-CCA (30%), whereas mutations in KRAS (16%), GNAS (14%), and PIK3CA (9%) are also common. In conclusion, PSC-CCA exhibits a variety of genetic alterations during progression of the neoplastic cascade, with mainly CNVs being present early, whereas mutations in ERBB2, TP53, and KRAS appear later in the development of CCA. These findings are promising for the development of NGS-guided diagnostic strategies in PSC-CCA. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Factors associated with major radiological progression of primary sclerosing cholangitis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is the most common hepatobiliary manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) has become the primary diagnostic modality for PSC. However, data on radiological progression over time of large-duct PSC-IBD are limited.

METHODS

We performed a nested case-control study to estimate the frequency of PSC in adult patients with IBD from a Middle Eastern population to assess the risk factors associated with major disease progression (formation of dominant strictures or cholangiocarcinoma) over time.

RESULTS

Data of IBD patients who were registered in the Saudi IBD Information System at tertiary care center were analyzed. Among 960 patients [477 ulcerative colitis (UC); 483 Crohn's disease (CD)], 40 PSC-IBD patients with at least two MRC performed in a one-year interval were matched with 141 IBD patients without PSC. The frequency of PSC was 4.1%. UC patients (6.2%) compared to CD (2%), 65% had extensive colitis. The incidence rate of PSC among our cohort was increased from 2.62 to 10 per 1000 patient-years between 2005 and 2019. MRC features stabilized in (46.7%); worsened in (36.9%) and 15.4% of patients developed CCA. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels of PSC patients who had major changes or CCA increased significantly after 44 months of follow-up (p = 0.01). The propensity score adjusted showed that hospitalization rate among PSC patients was higher than their non-PSC counterparts (OR 8.24; 95% CI 3.16-21.47; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

ALP rise and hospitalization history as clinical outcome were the only factors associated with PSC-IBD major progression on MRCP.

The Prognostic Role of SOCS3 and A20 in Human Cholangiocarcinoma

As an antagonist of the JAK/STAT pathway, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) plays an integral role in shaping the inflammatory environment, tumorigenesis and disease progression in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA); however, its prognostic significance remains unclear. Although tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3, also known as A20) can decrease SOCS3 expression and is involved in the regulation of tumorigenesis in certain malignancies, its role in CCA remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression of SOCS3 and A20 in human CCA tissues to assess the prognostic significance of these proteins. The expression of SOCS3 and A20 was initially detected by western blot in 22 cases of freshly frozen CCA tumors with corresponding peritumoral tissues and 22 control normal bile duct tissues. Then, these proteins were investigated in 86 CCA patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and were evaluated for their association with clinicopathological parameters in human CCA. The results indicated that SOCS3 expression was significantly lower in CCA tumor tissues than in corresponding peritumoral biliary tissues and normal bile duct tissues. Conversely, A20 was overexpressed in CCA tissues. Thus, an inverse correlation between the expression of SOCS3 and A20 was discovered. Furthermore, patients with low SOCS3 expression or high A20 expression showed a dramatically lower overall survival rate. These proteins were both associated with CCA lymph node metastasis, postoperative recurrence and overall survival rate. However, only A20 showed a significant association with the tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, while SOCS3 showed a significant association with tumor differentiation. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that SOCS3 and A20 were independent prognostic indicators for overall survival in CCA. Thus, our study demonstrated that SOCS3 and A20 represent novel prognostic factors for human CCA.

Poor outcomes after liver transplantation in patients with incidental cholangiocarcinoma irrespective of tumor localization

INTRODUCTION

After liver transplantation for cholangiocarcinoma (CCC), patients have a poor prognosis without use of specific therapeutic strategies. Accordingly, recipients with incidental CCC might have the highest risk of recurrent disease; however, sparse data on the long-term outcome of unselected patients with incidental CCC have been published. The aim of this study was to evaluate the post-transplantation outcomes of patients with incidental CCC with special focus on tumor localization.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 11 primary liver transplantations in patients with incidental CCC of 1310 liver transplantation procedures performed between December 1994 and August 2013. All patients with incidental CCC received a chemotherapy regiment including gemcitabine/5 fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and mitomycin. The patients were switched from calcineurin inhibitors to mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor-based immunosuppression shortly after CCC diagnosis.

RESULTS

Intra- and extrahepatic tumors were found in 6 and 5 patients, respectively. At median follow-up examination of 26.3 months there were 8 CCC recurrences and 7 patient deaths. Overall survival after liver transplantation for incidental CCC was 88.9% at 1 year, 44.4% at 2 years, and 14.8% at 3 years. The corresponding rates of recurrence-free survival were 45.7%, 45.7%, and 0.0%, respectively. Post-transplantation CCC recurrences were universal with 0% 3-year recurrence-free survival both in patients with intra- and extrahepatic tumors (P = .475).

CONCLUSIONS

Incidental CCC in liver transplantation is associated with poor outcomes irrespective of tumor localization. Introduction of new adjuvant multimodal treatment concepts is necessary to improve the prognosis for this subgroup of patients.

Aspirin may prevent cholangiocarcinoma: a case-control study from the United kingdom

BACKGROUND

The proliferation of cholangiocarcinoma cells is suppressed in cell culture by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) through the inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-2 enzyme and also by statins which decrease the production of mediators of the cell cycle.

AIMS

To investigate whether there is an inverse association between NSAIDs, including aspirin, and the development of cholangiocarcinoma and, for the first time in a Western population, between statin use and the development of cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

This epidemiological study had a case-control design in which cases of cholangiocarcinoma diagnosed in Norwich between 2004 and 2010 and in Leicester in 2007 were identified from clinical databases. Controls were patients with basal cell carcinomas treated in the respective dermatology departments. The case notes of all subjects were reviewed to confirm diagnoses and obtain information on medication use. The data were analyzed using unconditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

In total, 81 cases of cholangiocarcinoma and 275 controls were identified. For all cases there was radiological evidence of cancer and 86 % of the cases involved the extrahepatic biliary system. Aspirin use was inversely associated with the development of cholangiocarcinoma (OR 0.45, 95 % CI 0.22-0.92), but there were no significant associations between the development of cholangiocarcinoma and NSAIDs (OR 0.39; 95 % CI 0.11-1.42) or statins (OR 0.58; 95 % CI 0.28-1.19).

CONCLUSIONS

The epidemiological data from this study support the biological evidence for aspirin having a protective effect against the development of cholangiocarcinoma. Aspirin use should be measured in future etiological studies and assessed as a chemoprevention agent in those at high risk of developing this type of cancer.

Biliary stent therapy for dominant strictures in patients affected by primary sclerosing cholangitis

The diagnosis and the treatment of dominant strictures (DS) in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is challenging and the scientific literature on the subject is quite limited. Only level II and level III evidence is available to guide physicians managing patients with DS and PSC. For the diagnosis, intraductal endoscopic ultrasound is the most sensitive (64%) and specific (95%) test. However, the majority of cases require a combination of several different diagnostic tests, as there is no single investigation that can rule out malignancy in this group of patients. For the treatment, serial endoscopic or percutaneous dilatations provide 1- and 3-year biliary duct patency in 80 and 60% of patients, respectively. Dilatation and stenting are the most common interventions, although the optimal duration of treatment has still not been clearly defined. Bile duct resection and/or bilioenteric bypass are currently indicated only for patients with preserved liver function. For all other patients, benign DS can be treated with endoscopic dilatation with short-term stenting. This approach is effective and safe and does not increase the risk of malignant transformation or complications for liver transplant candidates. During the last decade, the use of self-expandable metallic stents for benign diseases has become an innovative option. The aim of this article is to review the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients affected by PSC and DS with specific emphasis on the outcomes of patients treated with temporary stents.

Orthotopic liver transplantation in combination with neoadjuvant therapy: a new paradigm in the treatment of unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Surgical resection is the primary modality of treatment for hilar and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA-ICCA). For unresectable early-stage HCCA, excellent long-term tumor recurrence-free patient survival has been achieved using a strict regimen of preoperative staging and neoadjuvant chemoradiation treatment followed by orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, in the case of unresectable ICCA, data on outcomes after OLT are limited. The present article reviews the current literature on the surgical treatment of ICCA focusing on the role of OLT in combination with neoadjuvant therapy and risk stratification of patients being considered for transplantation for unresectable ICCA.

RECENT FINDINGS

Numerous studies reported poor survival outcomes after OLT for ICCA. Recent data using a combination of neoadjuvant therapy followed by OLT in appropriately selected patients with unresectable ICCA demonstrated promising disease recurrence-free survival.

SUMMARY

Risk stratification for patient selection is crucial to optimize survival outcomes. Excellent long-term disease recurrence-free survival can be achieved in selected patients with unresectable ICCA using a combination of OLT and neoadjuvant therapy. Current data support the expansion of liver transplant criteria for treatment of unresectable ICCA.

Current update on primary and secondary sclerosing cholangitis

Sclerosing cholangitis can be idiopathic (primary) or secondary to an identifiable cause. Irrespective of cause, sclerosing cholangitis usually progresses to end-stage liver disease and warrants orthotopic liver transplantation. Recent studies provide new insights into the etiopathogenesis, natural history, diagnosis, and management of these different entities.

Analytical review of diagnosis and treatment strategies for dominant bile duct strictures in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis and treatment of indeterminate dominant strictures (DS) in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is challenging and the literature on the subject is scarce.

OBJECTIVES

This review aims to appraise and synthesize the evidence published in the English-language medical literature on this topic.

METHODS

Scientific papers published from 1950 until week 4 of July 2010 were extracted from MEDLINE, Ovid Medline In-Process, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, EMBASE, PubMed and the National Library of Medicine Gateway.

RESULTS

Strategies for the optimal management of DS in PSC patients are supported only by level II and III evidence. Intraductal endoscopic ultrasound appears to be the most sensitive (64%) and specific (95%) diagnostic test for the evaluation of DS in PSC. Endoscopic and percutaneous dilatations achieve 1- and 3-year palliation in 80% and 60% of patients, respectively. Although dilatation and stenting are the most common palliative interventions in DS, no randomized trials on the optimal duration of treatment have been conducted.

CONCLUSIONS

In benign DS, endoscopic dilatation with short-term stenting seems to be effective and safe and does not increase the risks for malignant transformation or complications after liver transplantation. Surgical bile duct resection and/or bilioenteric bypass are indicated only in patients with preserved liver function.

Photodynamic therapy: Palliation and endoscopic technique in cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma is the primary malignancy arising from the biliary epithelium. The disease is marked by jaundice, cholestasis, and cholangitis. Over 50 percent of patients present with advanced stage disease, precluding curative surgical resection as an option of treatment. Prognosis is poor, and survival has been limited even after biliary decompression. Palliative management has become the standard of care for unresectable disease and has evolved to include an endoscopic approach. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) consists of administration of a photosensitizer followed by local irradiation with laser therapy. Several studies conducted in Europe and the United States have shown a marked improvement in the symptoms of cholestasis, survival, and quality of life. This article summarizes the published experience regarding PDT for cholangiocarcinoma and the steps required to administer this therapy safely.

De-novo cholangiocarcinoma in native common bile duct remnant following OLT for primary sclerosing cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory and obstructive disease of the intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts of unknown etiology. Currently, orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the only definitive treatment for PSC-related end-stage liver disease. However, PSC has been known to recur in the grafted liver. Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is more commonly performed than choledochocholedochostomy for PSC, although choledochocholedochostomy has been found to be safe and efficacious for PSC if the distal common bile duct is uninvolved at the time of OLT. Our case is unique in that it describes a patient who developed de-novo cholangiocarcinoma in the remnant portion of the native common bile duct six years after OLT with choledochocholedochostomy for PSC-associated end-stage liver disease without having PSC recurrence. In conclusion, our case report indicates that choledochocholedochostomy may not be desirable in PSC due to an increased risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma in the native common bile duct. This risk exists as well with a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy in the remaining intra-duodenal and intra-pancreatic biliary epithelium, although in theory to a lesser extent. Therefore, the risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma in the recipient common bile duct can only be completely eliminated by performing a Whipple procedure at the time of OLT.

Advances in diagnosis, treatment and palliation of cholangiocarcinoma: 1990-2009

Several advances in diagnosis, treatment and palliation of cholangiocarcinoma (CC) have occurred in the last decades. A multidisciplinary approach to this disease is therefore recommended. CC is a relatively rare tumor and the main risk factors are: chronic inflammation, genetic predisposition and congenital abnormalities of the biliary tree. While the incidence of intra-hepatic CC is increasing, the incidence of extra-hepatic CC is trending down. The only curative treatment for CC is surgical resection with negative margins. Liver transplantation has been proposed only for selected patients with hilar CC that cannot be resected who have no metastatic disease after a period of neoadjuvant chemo-radiation therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, positron emission tomography scan, endoscopic ultrasound and computed tomography scans are the most frequently used modalities for diagnosis and tumor staging. Adjuvant therapy, palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been relatively ineffective for inoperable CC. For most of these patients biliary stenting provides effective palliation. Photodynamic therapy is an emerging palliative treatment that seems to provide pain relief, improve biliary patency and increase survival. The clinical utility of other emerging therapies such as transarterial chemoembolization, hepatic arterial chemoinfusion and high intensity intraductal ultrasound needs further study.

The challenges in primary sclerosing cholangitis--aetiopathogenesis, autoimmunity, management and malignancy

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease, characterized by progressive inflammation and fibrosis of the bile ducts, resulting in biliary cirrhosis and is associated with a high risk of cholangiocarcinoma. The majority of patients are young, male and have coexisting inflammatory bowel disease. PSC is found with a prevalence of 10/100,000 in Northern European populations. The pathophysiology of PSC is a complex multistep process including immunological mechanisms, immunogenetic susceptibility and disorders of the biliary epithelia. The diagnosis is primarily based on endoscopic cholangiography although magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly used; biochemistry and immunoserology as well as histology play only a minor role. Due to the high risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma and also other tumours of the GI tract, surveillance strategies are essential, however they have yet to be established and evaluated. Biochemical parameters, clinical risk factors, endoscopic procedures and imaging techniques contribute to the early identification of patients at risk. Since medical therapy of PSC with ursodeoxycholic acid does not improve survival, to date, liver transplantation is the only option with a cure potential; if transplantation is accurately timed, transplanted PSC patients have an excellent rate of survival. However if cholangiocarcinoma is detected, a curative treatment is not possible in the majority of cases. The present review critically summarizes the current knowledge on the aetiopathogenesis of PSC and gives an overview of the diagnostic approaches, surveillance strategies and therapeutic options. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a disease of unknown aetiology and without any further curative treatment options apart from liver transplantation. Therefore it may be regarded as the greatest challenge in hepatology today.

Epigenetic DNA hypermethylation in cholangiocarcinoma: potential roles in pathogenesis, diagnosis and identification of treatment targets

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCs) are highly lethal malignant tumours arising from the biliary tract epithelium. The disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose and is usually fatal because of its typically late clinical presentation and the lack of effective non-surgical therapeutic modalities. The overall survival rate, including resected patients is poor, with less than 5% of patients surviving 5 years, a rate which has not changed significantly over the past 30 years. Although CC is a relatively uncommon tumor, interest in this disease is rising as incidence and mortality rates for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are increasing markedly worldwide. A variety of risk factors, including primary sclerosing cholangitis, liver fluke infestation, and hepatolithiasis have been described. However, for most CCs the cause is unknown, and affected individuals have no history of exposure to, or association with, known risk factors. Recent advances in molecular pathogenesis have highlighted the importance of epigenetic alterations in the form of promoter region hypermethylation and histone deacetylation in addition to genetic changes in the process of cholangiocarcinogenesis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the genes reported to be methylated in CC to date and their putative roles in cholangiocarcinogenesis. Future directions in the study of methylated genes and their potential roles as diagnostic and prognostic markers are also discussed.

Cholangiocarcinoma in young individuals with and without primary sclerosing cholangitis

OBJECTIVES

We aimed at characterizing the clinical presentation and prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma in youth with and without primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

METHODS

Thirteen patients < or =25 yr of age with cholangiocarcinoma with or without PSC seen at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN from 1980 to 2005 were identified.

RESULTS

Of the 13 patients with cholangiocarcinoma, 8 had concomitant PSC and 5 did not. PSC was the associated risk factor in 8/13 (61.5%) whereas PSC was present in only 321/2,014 (15.9%) cases with cholangiocarcinoma in patients older than 25 (P < 0.0001) seen in the same period of time. Seven of the eight (88%) patients with cholangiocarcinoma and PSC had IBD and 5 of the 7 (71%) had Crohn's disease. A mean 11 months transplant free survival was observed (range 3-20 months) in cholangiocarcinoma with PSC versus 8 months in cholangiocarcinoma patients without PSC (NS).

CONCLUSIONS

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare disorder in young adults and it seems not to exist in children. The youth group of cholangiocarcinoma plus PSC seems to have a higher prevalence of Crohn's disease whereas the prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma in youth seems to be similarly poor as described in older patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

Multi-disciplinary treatment for cholangiocellular carcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is rare malignant tumors composed of cells that resemble those of the biliary tract. It is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and is associated with a high mortality. Traditionally, CC is divided into intrahepatic and extraheaptic disease according to its location within the biliary tree. Intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (IH-CCC) or peripheral cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) appears within the second bifurcation of hepatic bile duct, and is the second most common primary liver cancer following hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), IH-CCC or peripheral CCC often presents with advanced clinical features, and the cause for this cancer rise is still unclear. MRI, CT and PET provide useful diagnostic information in those patients. Surgical resection is the only chance for cure, with results depending on selected patients and careful surgical technique. Liver transplantation could offer long-term survival in selected patients when combined with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy or combination therapies remain as the only treatment for inoperable patients. However, these are uniformly ineffective in patients’ survival.

Cholangiocarcinoma: modern advances in understanding a deadly old disease

Cholangiocarcinomas are tumors that arise anywhere in the biliary tract, presumably of cholangiocyte origin. The global incidence of this rare disease is on the rise. Several known risk factors exist, and link chronic biliary inflammation to the pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma. Among these, amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor, the interleukin-6 signaling pathway, inducible nitric oxide, erb-2, and cyclooxygenase-2 are well defined. Most patients present late, with a median survival of months. Although, imaging studies and clinical context often indicate cholangiocarcinoma, pathologic and cytologic diagnosis is difficult to obtain. Advanced cytologic tests with fluorescence in situ hybridization or digital image analysis can increase diagnostic sensitivity. Surgical resection is the current therapy of choice for both intrahepatic and ductal cholangiocarcinomas. However, the 5-year survival is poor, with 60 to greater than 90% recurrence rates. In a single center experience, liver transplantation with neoadjuvant chemoirradiation, for highly selected patients, has a 5-year disease free survival of greater than 80%. Future targeted therapies will depend on a better understanding of the cellular and molecular biology of cholangiocarcinomas.

A comparison of routine cytology and fluorescence in situ hybridization for the detection of malignant bile duct strictures

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The aim of this study was to assess the relative sensitivities and specificities of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and routine cytology for the detection of malignancy in biliary tract strictures.

METHODS

Bile duct brushing and aspirate specimens were collected from 131 patients being evaluated for possible malignant bile duct strictures. Both specimen types were assessed by FISH but only brushing specimens were assessed by cytology. The FISH assay used a mixture of fluorescently-labeled probes to the centromeres of chromosomes 3, 7, and 17 and chromosomal band 9p21 (Vysis UroVysion) to identify cells having chromosomal abnormalities. A case was considered positive for malignancy if five or more cells exhibited polysomy.

RESULTS

Sixty-six of the 131 patients had surgical pathologic and/or clinical evidence of malignancy. Thirty-nine patients had cholangiocarcinoma, 19 had pancreatic carcinoma, and 8 had other types of malignancy. The sensitivity of cytology and FISH for the detection of malignancy in bile duct brushing specimens in these patients was 15% and 34% (p < 0.01), respectively. The sensitivity of FISH for the bile aspirate specimens was 23%, and the combined sensitivity of FISH for aspirate and brushing specimens was 35%. The specificity of FISH and cytology brushings were 91% and 98% (p= 0.06), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

FISH is significantly more sensitive than and nearly as specific as conventional cytology for the detection of malignant biliary strictures in biliary brushing specimens. FISH may improve the clinical management of patients who are being evaluated for malignancy in bile duct strictures.