Advances in therapies for unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma / 国际外科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary tract. Surgical resection is the only radical treatment method at present. However, due to its insidious onset and high degree of malignancy, it is usually in the middle or late stage when first diagnosed, most patients have lost the chance of radical surgery and have a very poor prognosis. In recent years, with the continuous progress of medical technology, the optimization and different combination of treatment methods such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biliary drainage, photodynamic therapy, nano-knife ablation, intraluminal radiofrequency ablation, liver transplantation, targeted therapy and immunotherapy has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy and intraluminal radiofrequency ablation on the basis of biliary drainage can prolong the time of biliary patency. Nano-knife ablation can maximize the elimination of tumor cells on the premise of protecting the structure of the ducts. Liver transplantation offers a possibly curative opportunity for patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy provide a breakthrough point for precision therapy and individualized therapy. Based on the literature and the clinical experience of our team, this paper discussed the therapeutic approaches for unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma and encountered problems, so as to provide reference for clinical treatment and related research.