The state of therapy modalities in clinic for biliary tract cancer

Review of the mechanisms of the biliary-enteric axis in the development of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a particularly aggressive and challenging type of cancer, known for its poor prognosis, which is worsened by the complex interplay of various biological and environmental factors that contribute to its development. Recently, researchers have increasingly focused on the significant role of the biliary-enteric communication of liver-gut axis in the pathogenesis of CCA, highlighting a complex relationship that has not been thoroughly explored before. This review aims to summarize the key concepts related to the biliary-enteric communication of liver-gut axis and investigate its potential mechanisms that may lead to the onset and progression of CCA, a disease that presents substantial treatment challenges. Important areas of focus will include the microbiome's profound influence, which interacts with host physiology in ways that may worsen cancer development; changes in bile acid metabolism that can create toxic environments favorable for tumor growth; the regulation of inflammatory processes that may either promote or inhibit tumor progression; the immune system's involvement, which is crucial in the body's response to cancer; and the complex interactions within metabolic pathways that can affect cellular behavior and tumor dynamics. By integrating recent research findings from various studies, we aim to explore the multifaceted roles of the biliary-enteric communication of liver-gut axis in CCA, providing new insights and perspectives for future research while identifying promising therapeutic targets that could lead to innovative treatment strategies aimed at improving patient outcomes in this challenging disease.

New frontiers in the pharmacological management of biliary tract carcinomas: the emerging role of drug conjugates

INTRODUCTION

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a human malignancy with a poor prognosis. However, significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis, leading to the development of targeted therapy strategies in recent years. The challenge now is to develop new therapeutic concepts to further increase the efficacy of BTC treatments in the coming years.

AREAS COVERED

This review covers the emerging and advanced approaches of highly sophisticated antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and non-ADCs, particularly in relation to BTC. Additionally, the potential advantages and disadvantages of ADCs and non-ADCs regarding toxicities, bioavailability, and efficacy are presented and discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

Given the poor prognosis of BTCs, new targeted and precision therapy strategies using drug conjugates - with and without antibodies as drug carriers - have the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional chemotherapy by improving treatment specificity and efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity. However, several open questions remain regarding ADCs and non-ADCs, including chemical design, drug delivery, related diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers, and combinatory application strategies.

A prognostic model and novel risk classification system for radical gallbladder cancer surgery: A population-based study and external validation

Background

This research aimed to create a predictive model and an innovative risk classification system for patients with gallbladder cancer who undergo radical surgery.

Methods

A cohort of 1387 patients diagnosed with gallbladder cancer was selected from the SEER database. The researchers devised a prognostic tool known as a nomogram, which was subjected to assessment and fine-tuning using various statistical measures such as the concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and risk stratification were included in the catalog of comparisons. An external validation set comprising 93 patients from Nanchong Central Hospital was gathered for evaluation purposes.

Results

The nomogram effectively incorporated seven variables and demonstrated satisfactory discriminatory ability, as evidenced by the C-index (training cohort: 0.737, validation cohort: 0.730) and time-dependent AUC (>0.7). Additionally, calibration plots confirmed the excellent alignment between the nomogram and actual observations. Our investigation unveiled NRI scores of 0.79, 0.81, and 0.81 in the training group, while the validation group exhibited NRI values of 0.82, 0.77, and 0.78. Additionally, when evaluating CSS at three-, six-, and nine-year intervals using DCA curves, our established nomograms demonstrated significantly improved performance compared to the old model (P < 0.05), showcasing enhanced discriminatory ability. The results of the external validation set proved the above results.

Conclusions

The current investigation has devised a practical prognostic nomogram and risk stratification framework to aid healthcare practitioners in evaluating the postoperative outlook of individuals who have received extensive surgical treatment for gallbladder carcinoma.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone as first-line treatment for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer in China

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adding pembrolizumab to the standard first-line therapy of advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) with gemcitabine and cisplatin from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system.

METHODS

The partitioned survival model developed from clinical data obtained in The KEYNOTE-966 trial served as the basis for a simulation in the TreeAge Pro 2011 software. The objective of the research was to estimate the 10-year life expectancy and total healthcare costs of patients with BTC, utilizing primary outcomes that evaluated costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). To establish the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold, the 2022 Chinese per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of $37304.346/QALY was adopted. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was conducted to ascertain the study's results under varying levels of uncertainty.

RESULTS

Compared to chemotherapy alone, the addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy has been shown to yield an incremental gain of 0.184 quality-adjusted life years (QALY) at an additional cost of $103940.706. This translates into an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $564895.141/QALY, which exceeds the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold in China. One-way sensitivity analyses performed on the model recognize the utility of PD, subsequent cost, and the cost of Pembrolizumab 100 mg had a major influence on the outcomes. However, no parameter elicited an ICER lower than the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system, the utilization of pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy as an first-line treatment option for BTC does not appear to be a cost-effective approach compared to chemotherapy as a standalone therapy.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of durvalumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for biliary tract cancer

Objective

The TOPAZ-1 trial reported a significant survival benefit of durvalumab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, no studies have evaluated the economics of this treatment option. The aim of this study was to assess the cost effectiveness of durvalumab plus chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy from the perspective of US and Chinese payers.

Methods

Based on clinical data from the TOPAZ-1 trial, a Markov model was developed to simulate 10-year life expectancy and total healthcare costs for patients with BTC. The treatment group received durvalumab in combination with chemotherapy and the control group received placebo plus chemotherapy. The primary outcomes analyzed included quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Uncertainty in the analysis results was assessed by sensitivity analysis.

Results

For US payers, the placebo plus chemotherapy group had a total cost of $56,157.05 and a utility of 1.10 QALYs, while the durvalumab plus chemotherapy group had a total cost of $217,069.25, a utility of 1.52 QALYs, resulting in an ICER of $381,864.39/QALY. For Chinese payers, the ICER of durvalumab plus chemotherapy group was $367,608.51/QALY. Sensitivity analysis showed that the analysis was most sensitive to the price of durvalumab. For US and Chinese payers, under the respective willing to pay thresholds, the likelihood of the durvalumab plus chemotherapy arm being cost-effective was 0%.

Conclusions

Both in China and in the US, durvalumab in combination with chemotherapy is not a cost-effective option for the first-line treatment of BTC compared with chemotherapy.

Efficacy of Endobiliary Radiofrequency Ablation in Preserving Survival, Performance Status and Chemotherapy Eligibility of Patients with Unresectable Distal Cholangiocarcinoma: A Case-Control Study

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common malignancy of the bile ducts causing intrahepatic, hilar, or distal bile duct obstruction. Most jaundiced patients are diagnosed with unresectable tumors in need for palliative bile duct drainage and chemotherapy. Endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an adjuvant technique that may be applied prior to biliary stenting. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of endobiliary RFA prior to stent insertion in patients with unresectable distal cholangiocarcinomas. Methods: Twenty-five patients (eight treated with RFA and stenting and 17 treated with stenting alone) were included in a case-controlled study. We prospectively assessed the impact of RFA on the survival rate, the patient performance status, and the preservation of eligibility for chemotherapy based on the patient laboratory profile. Results: Patients treated with RFA prior to stenting proved to have a significantly longer survival interval (19 vs. 16 months, p = 0.04, 95% CI) and significantly better performance status. Moreover, the laboratory profiles of patients treated with RFA has been proven superior in terms of total bilirubin, liver enzymes, and kidney function, thus making patients likely eligible for palliative chemotherapy. Post-ERCP adverse events were scarce in both the study group and the control group. Conclusion: Given the isolated adverse events and the impact on the patient survival, performance, and laboratory profile, RFA can be considered safe and efficient in the management of patients with unresectable distal cholangiocarcinomas.