Emerging drugs for biliary cancer

Conversion therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and tumor downsizing to increase resection rates: A systematic review

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a devastating malignant neoplasm with dismal outcomes. Several therapeutic modalities have been used with variable success to downsize these tumors for resection. Neoadjuvant therapy such as chemoembolization and radioembolization offer promising options to manage tumor burden prior to resection. A systematic review of the literature was performed with a focus on conversion therapy for ICC and tumor downsizing to increase resection rates among patients who have an initially unresectable tumor. Of 132 patients with initially unresectable ICC, we identified 27 who underwent conversion therapy with surgical resection. Adequate tumor downsizing was achieved with chemotherapy, chemoembolization, radioembolization, or combination thereof. Although negative tumor margins were possible in some patients, recurrence rates and survival outcomes were inconsistently reported. Twenty-three of 27 patients were alive at last reported follow-up. Conversion therapy for initially unresectable ICC may offer adequate tumor downsizing for resection.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: expert consensus statement

An American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA)-sponsored consensus meeting of expert panellists met on 15 January 2014 to review current evidence on the management of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) in order to establish practice guidelines and to agree on consensus statements. The treatment of ICC requires a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to optimize survival. Biopsy is not necessary if the surgeon suspects ICC and is planning curative resection, although biopsy should be obtained before systemic or locoregional therapies are initiated. Assessment of resectability is best accomplished using cross-sectional imaging [computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)], but the role of positron emission tomography (PET) is unclear. Resectability in ICC is defined by the ability to completely remove the disease while leaving an adequate liver remnant. Extrahepatic disease, multiple bilobar or multicentric tumours, and lymph node metastases beyond the primary echelon are contraindications to resection. Regional lymphadenectomy should be considered a standard part of surgical therapy. In patients with high-risk features, the routine use of diagnostic laparoscopy is recommended. The preoperative diagnosis of combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) by imaging studies is extremely difficult. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment, but survival is worse than in HCC alone. There are no adequately powered, randomized Phase III trials that can provide definitive recommendations for adjuvant therapy for ICC. Patients with high-risk features (lymphovascular invasion, multicentricity or satellitosis, large tumours) should be encouraged to enrol in clinical trials and to consider adjuvant therapy. Cisplatin plus gemcitabine represents the standard-of-care, front-line systemic therapy for metastatic ICC. Genomic analyses of biliary cancers support the development of targeted therapeutic interventions.

Chemotherapy and targeted therapy in advanced biliary tract carcinoma: a pooled analysis of clinical trials

BACKGROUND

In biliary tract cancer, gemcitabine platinum (GP) doublet palliative chemotherapy is the current standard treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze recent trials, even those small and nonrandomized, and identify superior new regimens.

METHODS

Trials published in English between January 2000 and January 2014 were analyzed, as well as ASCO abstracts from 2010 to 2013.

RESULTS

In total, 161 trials comprising 6,337 patients were analyzed. The pooled results of standard therapy GP (no fluoropyrimidine, F, or other drug) were as follows: the median response rate (RR), tumor control rate (TCR), time to tumor progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) were 25.9 and 63.5%, and 5.3 and 9.5 months, respectively. GFP triplets as well as G-based chemotherapy plus targeted therapy were significantly superior to GP concerning tumor control (TCR, TTP) and OS, with no difference in RR.

CONCLUSION

Triplet combinations of GFP as well as G-based chemotherapy with (predominantly EGFR) targeted therapy are most effective concerning tumor control and survival.

Neoadjuvant therapy for downstaging of locally advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a rare but highly lethal type of cancer. A minority of patients present with resectable disease. Surgery remains the only treatment modality offering a chance of long-term survival. Unresectable patients are typically offered palliative treatment. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence for neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection in patients presenting with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

Cochrane databases, Medline, PubMed and EMBASE were systematically searched to identify articles describing neoadjuvant therapy and surgical resection or re-assessment of resectability in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Included were all articles with original research. Study selection and data extraction were performed separately by two reviewers using a standardized protocol.

RESULTS

From 732 articles 8 full text articles and 2 abstracts met the inclusion criteria. The 2 abstracts and 1 full text article were case reports, 3 articles were retrospective and 4 were prospective studies (2 phase I and 2 phase II studies). Photodynamic therapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy were used in various indications in populations that included patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma, some of which were primarily unresectable. Overall quality of articles was limited.

CONCLUSION

Current evidence suggests that neoadjuvant therapy in patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma can be performed safely and in a selected group of patients can lead to subsequent surgical R0 resection. Surgical resection of downstaged patients should be assessed in properly designed phase II studies.

A 21-year analysis of stage I gallbladder carcinoma: is cholecystectomy alone adequate?

OBJECTIVES

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a rare disease that is often diagnosed incidentally in its early stages. Simple cholecystectomy is considered the standard treatment for stage I GBC. This study was conducted in a large cohort of patients with stage I GBC to test the hypothesis that the extent of surgery affects survival.

METHODS

The National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database was queried to identify patients in whom microscopically confirmed, localized (stage I) GBC was diagnosed between 1988 and 2008. Surgical treatment was categorized as cholecystectomy alone, cholecystectomy with lymph node dissection (C + LN) or radical cholecystectomy (RC). Age, gender, race, ethnicity, T1 sub-stage [T1a, T1b, T1NOS (T1 not otherwise specified)], radiation treatment, extent of surgery, cause of death and survival were assessed by log-rank and Cox's regression analyses.

RESULTS

Of 2788 patients with localized GBC, 1115 (40.0%) had pathologically confirmed T1a, T1b or T1NOS cancer. At a median follow-up of 22 months, 288 (25.8%) had died of GBC. Five-year survival rates associated with cholecystectomy, C + LN and RC were 50%, 70% and 79%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that surgical treatment and younger age were predictive of improved disease-specific survival (P < 0.001), whereas radiation therapy portended worse survival (P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

In the largest series of patients with stage I GBC to be reported, survival was significantly impacted by the extent of surgery (LN dissection and RC). Cholecystectomy alone is inadequate in stage I GBC and its use as standard treatment should be reconsidered.

Gallbladder cancer: can newer insights improve the outcome?

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the leading cause of cancer related mortality in certain geographic areas. Most of the patients with GBC have advanced disease at presentation, precluding curative resection resulting in a dismal prognosis. However, recent advances in the understanding of its epidemiology and pathogenesis coupled with development of newer diagnostic tools and therapeutic options, has resulted in enhanced optimism towards the management of the disease. The leading risk factors are gallstones, advancing age, female gender, anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal junction, certain ethnic groups and geographic populations. Advances in radiological imaging and the advent of endoscopic ultrasound have facilitated early detection and accurate staging of the tumor. A high index of suspicion in high risk groups is necessary to pick up incidental and early GBC, as surgical resection is curative. In patients with suspected GBC, an open surgical resection that is appropriate for that stage is advocated. Adjuvant combination chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy are emerging as effective therapeutic options in those with advanced GBC. Endoscopic palliation of biliary and gastric outlet obstruction with metallic stents has improved their quality of life. Prevention remains the hitherto less explored option to reduce GBC related mortality. Prophylactic cholecystectomy in high risk groups is a cost-effective option. A multi-disciplinary systematic global approach to initiate collaborative ventures to understand epidemiology, standardize management strategies, conduct multi-centric trials with newer therapeutic agents and initiate preventive measures, would pave way for the future conquest of the disease.

Adjuvant therapy for resected extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a review of the literature and future directions

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm originating from the intra- or extrahepatic bile duct epithelium. Incidence has been increasing worldwide in the last three decades. Complete surgical resection provides the only possibility of cure, but even with resection 5-yr survival can be as low as 11%. Adjuvant therapy has the potential to play a crucial role in prolonging survival and local control. Retrospective series have suggested benefit to adjuvant radiation, chemotherapy or concurrent chemo-radiation. The scarce prospective data has not shown a survival benefit to adjuvant therapy. In this article we review and summarize the published data regarding adjuvant therapy for resected extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Prospective, multi-institutional randomized trials are needed to clarify the role of adjuvant therapy in this disease.