Subdivision of pT1N0 (American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition) distal cholangiocarcinoma for adjuvant chemotherapy consideration.

BACKGROUND: The adjuvant S-1 trial affirmed adjuvant chemotherapy for biliary tract cancer but excluded pT1N0 distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC) according to the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification. The introduction of tumor depth of invasion (DOI) for T-classification in the eighth edition complicates identifying DCC patients less likely to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: Our cohort consisted of 185 patients with DCC who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2002 and 2019. We compared clinicopathological factors and survival outcomes between pT1N0 patients in the seventh edition and those in the eighth edition. New DOI cutoffs for subdividing pT1N0 (8th edition) patients were evaluated to identify patients less likely to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Transitioning to the eighth edition increased in pT1N0 cases from eight to 46. The 5-year cumulative recurrence rates of them were 14.3% for the seventh edition and 28.3% for the eighth edition. We proposed a DOI cutoff of <2 mm, at which the 5-year cumulative recurrence rate was 11.5%. CONCLUSION: The eighth AJCC classification revealed that a significant proportion of pT1N0 DCC patients were at risk for recurrence. A DOI cutoff of <2 mm may be considered to potentially improve patient selection for adjuvant chemotherapy.

Update on the Screening, Diagnosis, and Management of Cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a neoplasm of the biliary tract that has become increasingly prevalent throughout the world. Common risk factors for developing CCA include cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and trematode fluke infestation, although there are no set screening guidelines in high-risk groups. Lesions are typically identified via cross-sectional imaging and/or elevated serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels, often followed by cytology or brushings with fluorescence in situ hybridization for confirmation. Treatments can vary among CCA subtypes but frequently involve systemic therapies such as gemcitabine and cisplatin with durvalumab or pembrolizumab. Targeted therapies may also be effective (eg, ivosidenib, pemigatinib, infigratinib, futibatinib) depending on the molecular alterations present. Resection is the most common surgical treatment for CCA, although liver transplantation is also an option in highly selected patients with liver-limited unresectable disease. Radiotherapy may also be a treatment option, as well as transarterial radioembolization (eg, yttrium-90), which is often utilized in combination with systemic therapy. Although patients with CCA have traditionally had a poor prognosis, recent advances in treatment, including new systemic therapies and increased utilization of liver transplantation, have improved expected survival. This article reviews screening modalities, pros and cons of diagnostic techniques, and therapies that are currently available to treat patients with CCA.

Clinical significance of determining the level of biliary calprotectin in patients with cholangiocarcinoma or choledocholithiasis / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the difference in the level of biliary calprotectin between patients with cholangiocarcinoma and those with choledocholithiasis. MethodsClinical data and bile samples were collected from 34 patients with cholangiocarcinoma and 78 patients with choledocholithiasis who were diagnosed and treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from May 2021 to September 2022. Fluorescence lateral flow immunoassay was used to measure the levels of calprotectin， hemoglobin， and lactoferrin in bile. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups， and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups； the Spearman correlation test was used for correlation analysis； the DeLong test was used for comparison of the area under the ROC curve （AUC）. ResultsCompared with the choledocholithiasis group， the cholangiocarcinoma group had significant increases in the levels of calprotectin ［4 795.50 （2 286.79‍ ‍—‍ ‍20 179.73） ng/mL vs 411.16 （67.03‍ ‍—‍ ‍1 991.88） ng/mL， Z=5.572， P<0.001］ and fluoride ［115.70 （109.10‍ — ‍125.50） mmol/L vs 106.60 （98.60‍ ‍—‍ ‍114.40） mmol/L， Z=2.702， P=0.007］. The patients with cholangiocarcinoma were further divided into high cholangiocarcinoma group and low cholangiocarcinoma group， and there was no significant difference between the two groups in the level of calprotectin ［3 867.71 （2 235.66‍ — ‍26 407.40） ng/mL vs 4 795.50 （2 361.15‍ — ‍13 070.53） ng/mL， Z=0.129， P>0.05］. Biliary calprotectin level was correlated with white blood cell count， hemoglobin concentration， and lactoferrin concentration in bile （r=0.316， 0.353， and 0.464， all P<0.05）. The ROC curve analysis showed that biliary calprotectin （with a sensitivity of 79.4% and a specificity of 75.6%）， blood CA19-9 （with a sensitivity of 82.4% and a specificity of 78.2%）， and their combination （with a sensitivity of 88.2% and a specificity of 73.1%） had good sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. ConclusionThere is an increase in the level of biliary calprotectin in patients with cholangiocarcinoma， and therefore， it might become a biomarker for the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct: diagnostic value of MRI features in differentiating pathologic subclassifications-type 1 versus type 2.

OBJECTIVES: To identify MRI features for differentiating type 2 from type 1 intraductal papillary neoplasms of bile duct (IPNB) and assessing malignant potential of IPNB. METHODS: This retrospective study included 60 patients with surgically proven IPNB who had undergone preoperative MRI between January 2007 and December 2020. All surgical specimens were reviewed retrospectively to classify types 1 and 2 IPNBs and assess tumor grade. Significant MRI features for differentiating type 2 (n = 40) from type 1 IPNB (n = 20); and for IPNB with an associated invasive carcinoma (n = 43) from intraepithelial neoplasia (n = 17) were determined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: An associated invasive carcinoma was more frequently found in type 2 than in type 1 IPNB (85.0% [34/40] vs. 45.0% [9/20], p = 0.003). At univariable analysis, MRI features including extrahepatic location, no dilatation of tumor-bearing segment of bile duct, isolated upstream bile duct dilatation, and single lesion were associated with type 2 IPNB (all p ≤ 0.012). At multivariable analysis, significant MRI findings for differentiating type 2 from type 1 IPNB were extrahepatic location and no dilatation of tumor-bearing segment of bile duct (odds ratio [OR], 7.24 and 46.40, respectively). At univariable and multivariable analysis, tumor size ≥ 2.5 cm (OR, 8.45), bile duct wall thickening (OR, 4.82), and irregular polypoid or nodular tumor shape (OR, 6.44) were significant MRI features for differentiating IPNB with an associated invasive carcinoma from IPNB with intraepithelial neoplasia. CONCLUSION: MRI with MR cholangiopancreatography may be helpful in differentiating type 2 IPNB from type 1 IPNB and assessing malignant potential of IPNB. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Preoperative MRI with MR cholangiopancreatography may be helpful in differentiating type 2 intraductal papillary neoplasms of bile duct (IPNB) from type 1 IPNB and assessing malignant potential of IPNB. KEY POINTS: • In terms of tumor grade, the incidence of invasive carcinoma was significantly higher in type 2 intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) than in type 1 IPNB. • At MRI, extrahepatic location and no dilatation of tumor-bearing segment are significant features for differentiating type 2 IPNBs from type 1 IPNBs. • At MRI, large tumor size, bile duct wall thickening, and irregular polypoid or nodular tumor shape are significant features for differentiating IPNB with an associated invasive carcinoma from IPNB with intraepithelial neoplasia.

Short- and Long-Term Survival of Metastatic Biliary Tract Cancer in the United States From 2000 to 2018.

INTRODUCTION: Information about survival outcomes in metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC) is sparse, and the numbers often quoted are based on reports of clinical trials data that may not be representative of patients treated in the real world. Furthermore, the impact of more widespread adoption of a standardized combination chemotherapy regimen since 2010 on survival is unclear. METHODS: We performed an analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to determine the real-world overall survival trends in a cohort of patients with metastatic BTC diagnosed between the years 2000 and 2017 with follow-up until 2018. We analyzed data for the entire cohort, evaluated short-term and long-term survival rates, and compared survival outcomes in the pre-2010 and post-2010 periods. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate factors associated with survival. RESULTS: Among 13, 287 patients, the median age was 68 years. There was a preponderance of female (57%) and white (77%) patients. Forty-one percent died within 3 months of diagnosis (short-term survivors) and 20% were long-term survivors (12 months or longer). The median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 4.5 months. Median OS improved post-2010 (4.5 months) compared to pre-2010 (3.5 months) (P < .0001). On multivariate analysis, age <55 years, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, surgical resection, and diagnosis post-2010 were associated with lower hazard of death. CONCLUSION: The real-world prognosis of metastatic BTC is remarkably poorer than described in clinical trials because a large proportion of patients survive less than three months. Over the last decade, the improvement in survival has been minimal.

Anticancer Drugs Compared to No Anticancer Drugs in Patients with Advanced Hepatobiliary Cancer: A Mapping Review and Evidence Gap Map.

Introduction: Despite being commonly recommended, the impact of anticancer drugs (ACDs) on patient-important outcomes beyond survival for advanced hepatobiliary cancers (HBCs) may not have been sufficiently assessed. We aim to identify and map the evidence regarding ACDs versus best supportive care (BSC) for advanced HBCs, considering patient-centered outcomes. Methods: In this mapping review, we included systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and observational studies comparing ACDs (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological/targeted therapy) versus BSC for advanced HBCs. We searched MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE (Ovid), Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos, PROSPERO and clinicaltrials.gov for eligible studies. Two reviewers performed the screening and data extraction processes. We developed evidence maps for each type of cancer. Results: We included 87 studies (60 for advanced liver cancer and 27 for gallbladder or bile duct cancers). Most of the evidence favored ACDs for survival outcomes, and BSC for toxicity. We identified several evidence gaps for non-survival outcomes, including quality of life or quality of end-of-life care. Discussion: Patient-important outcomes beyond survival in advanced HBCs are insufficiently assessed by the available evidence. Future studies need to address these gaps to better inform decision-making processes.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct: The new frontier of biliary pathology.

Intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNBs) represent a rare variant of biliary tumors characterized by a papillary growth within the bile duct lumen. Since their first description in 2001, several classifications have been proposed, mainly based on histopathological, radiological and clinical features, although no specific guidelines addressing their management have been developed. Bile duct neoplasms generally develop through a multistep process, involving different precursor pathways, ranging from the initial lesion, detectable only microscopically, i.e. biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, to the distinctive grades of IPNB until the final stage represented by invasive cholangiocarcinoma. Complex and advanced investigations, mainly relying on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cholangioscopy, are required to reach a correct diagnosis and to define an adequate bile duct mapping, which supports proper treatment. The recently introduced subclassifications of types 1 and 2 highlight the histopathological and clinical aspects of IPNB, as well as their natural evolution with a particular focus on prognosis and survival. Aggressive surgical resection, including hepatectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy or both, represents the treatment of choice, yielding optimal results in terms of survival, although several endoscopic approaches have been described. IPNBs are newly recognized preinvasive neoplasms of the bile duct with high malignant potential. The novel subclassification of types 1 and 2 defines the histological and clinical aspects, prognosis and survival. Diagnosis is mainly based on MRI and cholangioscopy. Surgical resection represents the mainstay of treatment, although endoscopic resection is currently applied to nonsurgically fit patients. New frontiers in genetic research have identified the processes underlying the carcinogenesis of IPNB, to identify targeted therapies.

Exocrine pancreatic cancer as a second primary malignancy: A population-based study.

Backgrounds/Aims: Although cancer survivors are at higher risk of developing second primary malignancies, cancer surveillance strategies for them have not yet been established. This study aimed to identify first primary cancers that had high risks of developing second primary exocrine pancreatic cancer (EPC). Methods: Data on individuals diagnosed with primary cancers between 1993 and 2017 were obtained from the Korea Central Cancer Registry. The standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of second primary EPCs were analyzed according to the primary tumor sites and follow-up periods. Results: Among the 3,205,840 eligible individuals, 4,836 (0.15%) had second primary EPCs, which accounted for 5.8% of the total EPC patients in Korea. Between 1 and 5 years after the diagnosis of first primary cancers, SIRs of second primary EPCs were increased in patients whose first primary cancers were in the bile duct (males 2.99; females 5.03) in both sexes, and in the small intestine (3.43), gallbladder (3.21), and breast (1.26) in females. Among those who survived 5 or more years after the diagnosis of first primary cancers, SIRs of second primary EPCs were elevated in patients whose first primary cancers were in the bile duct (males 2.61; females 2.33), gallbladder (males 2.29; females 2.22), and kidney (males 1.39; females 1.73) in both sexes, and ovary (1.66) and breast (1.38) in females. Conclusions: Survivors of first primary bile duct, gallbladder, kidney, ovary, and female breast cancer should be closely monitored for the occurrence of second primary EPCs, even after 5 years of follow-up.

[Primary neuroendocrine tumor of the common bile duct] / Tumor neuroendocrino primario del conducto hepático común.

Primary neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the bile duct are extremely rare and represent only 0.2-2% of all gastrointestinal NETs. Within the biliary system, the main bile duct is the most affected site. A 28-year-old man with a 6-month history of intermittent jaundice, pruritus, and choluria. MRCP, PET-CT and endoscopic ultrasound were performed. A well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasia was diagnosed. Complete resection of the main bile duct was performed with lymphadenectomy of the hepatic pedicle with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, without complications. The patient had an adequate evolution and nowadays he's disease-free. Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the bile duct are extremely rare. They may present clinically and radiologically similar to perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, which makes preoperative diagnosis difficult. Radical resection is indicated. Usually, they are well differentiated tumors, being the Ki-67 labeling index a reliable prognostic marker.

Los tumores neuroendocrinos (TNE) primarios de la vía biliar son extremadamente raros y representan sólo el 0.2-2% de todos los TNE gastrointestinales. Dentro del sistema biliar, la vía biliar principal es el sitio más afectado. Hombre de 28 años con cuadro de 6 meses de evolución caracterizado por ictericia intermitente, prurito y coluria. Se realizó colangiopancreatoresonancia magnética nuclear, PET-TC y ultrasonido endoscópico que concluyeron neoplasia neuroendocrina bien diferenciada. Se realizó resección completa de la vía biliar principal con linfadenectomía del pedículo hepático con hepaticoyeyunoanastomosis en Y de Roux, sin complicaciones. El paciente cursó adecuada evolución y se encuentra libre de enfermedad. Los tumores neuroendocrinos primarios de la vía biliar son extremadamente raros, presentándose clínica y radiológicamente como lesiones similares al colangiocarcinoma perihiliar lo que dificulta el diagnóstico preoperatorio. Está indicado su tratamiento quirúrgico radical. Suelen ser bien diferenciados, siendo el antígeno Ki-67 un marcador pronóstico confiable.

Synchronous Double Primary Combined Hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma and Cholangiolocarcinoma in a Cirrhotic Liver.

Both combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) and cholangiolocarcinoma are rare primary liver cancers. cHCC-CCA is believed to originate from transformed hepatocellular carcinoma or liver stem/progenitor cells. Cholangiolocarcinoma is characterized by ductular reaction-like anastomosing cords and glands resembling cholangioles or canals containing hepatocellular carcinoma components and adenocarcinoma cells. According to the 2019 revision of the World Health Organization criteria, a subtype with stem cell features as a subclassification of cHCC-CCA was abolished for lack of conclusive evidence of the stem cell origin theory. That led to the classification of cholangiolocarcinoma with hepatocytic differentiation as cHCC-CCA. Consequently, cholangiolocarcinoma without hepatocytic differentiation is classified as a subtype of small-duct cholangiocarcinoma and is assumed to originate from the bile duct. Herein, we report the first case of double primary cHCC-CCA and cholangiolocarcinoma without hepatocytic differentiation in different hepatic segments of a cirrhotic liver. We believe this case supports the validity of the new World Health Organization criteria because the pathological finding of cHCC-CCA in this case shows the transformation of hepatocellular carcinoma to cholangiocarcinoma. Furthermore, this case may demonstrate that immature ductular cell stemness and mature hepatocyte cell stemness in hepatocarcinogenesis can coexist in the same environment. The results provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of growth, differentiation, and regulation of liver cancers.

Efficacy Analysis of Suprapapillary versus Transpapillary Self-Expandable Metal Stents According to the Level of Obstruction in Malignant Extrahepatic Biliary Obstruction.

Background/Aims: The use of a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) is recommended for unresectable malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). Stent-related adverse events might differ according to the position of the stent through the ampulla of Vater (AOV). We retrospectively evaluated SEMS patency and adverse events according to the position of the SEMS. Methods: In total, 280 patients who underwent endoscopic SEMS placement due to malignant distal biliary obstruction were analyzed retrospectively. Suprapapillary and transpapillary SEMS insertions were performed on 51 patients and 229 patients, respectively. Results: Between the suprapapillary group (SPG) and transpapillary group (TPG), the stent patency period was not significantly different (median [95% confidence interval]: 107 days [82.3 to 131.7] vs 120 days [99.3 to 140.7], p=0.559). There was also no significant difference in the rate of adverse events. In subgroup analysis, the stent patency for an MBO located within 2 cm from the AOV was found to be significantly shorter than that for an MBO located more than 2 cm from the AOV in the SPG (64 days [0 to 160.4] vs 127 days [82.0 to 171.9], p<0.001) and TPG (87 days [52.5 to 121.5] vs 130 [97.0 to 162.9], p<0.001). Patients with an MBO located within 2 cm from the AOV in both groups had a higher percentage of duodenal invasion (SPG: 40.0% vs 4.9%, p=0.002; TPG: 28.6% vs 2.9%, p<0.001) than patients with an MBO located more than 2 cm from the AOV. Conclusions: The SPG and TPG showed similar results in terms of stent patency and rate of adverse events. However, patients with an MBO located within 2 cm from the AOV had a higher percentage of duodenal invasion with shorter stent patency than those with an MBO located more than 2 cm from the AOV, regardless of stent position.

Survival analysis of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma based on surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database.

Backgrounds/Aims: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) can be classified as intrahepatic CCA or extrahepatic CCA (eCCA). We intended to analyze and reports the survival outcomes for eCCA. Methods: Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) registry, site recode C24.0, was used to select cases of eCCA from 2000 to 2018. Patients with incomplete data or ages <18 years were excluded. Results: Male (52.69%) and White race (77.99%) predominated. Compared with 2000-2006, survival increased in 2013 (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj]: 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58-0.70; p < 0.01). Surgery with chemoradiotherapy (HRadj: 0.69, 95% CI 0.60-0.7; p < 0.01) and surgery with chemotherapy (HRadj: 0.72, 95% CI 0.62-0.83; p < 0.01) improved survival over surgery alone. Compared with surgery without lymph node (LN) removal, surgery of four or more regional LN reduced the risk of death by 58% (HRadj: 0.42, 95% CI 0.36-0.51; p < 0.01). Compared with patients without surgery, patients who underwent bile duct excision (HRadj: 0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.94; p < 0.01), simple or extended lobectomy (HRadj: 0.85, 95% CI 0.75-0.95; p = 0.009), and hepatectomy (HRadj: 0.80, 95% CI 0.72-0.88; p < 0.01) significantly improved survival. Patients with distal CCA had a 17% higher survival than perihilar CCA (HRadj: 0.83, 95% CI 0.74-0.92; p < 0.01) and LN dissection was equally beneficial for both subgroups (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Surgery with chemoradiotherapy has a proven increase in the 5-year survival of the eCCA. LN resection, bile duct excision, lobectomy, and hepatectomy have better outcomes.

Role of tumor-associated macrophages in cholangiocarcinoma / 临床肝胆病杂志

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly malignant biliary tumor with strong invasion and poor prognosis and is insensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) is an important component of the tumor microenvironment. CCA cells recruit TAM into tumor tissue by releasing cytokines and polarize them into M2 TAM, which promotes the progression of CCA through various mechanisms such as assisting immune escape, promoting tumor cell proliferation, regulating angiogenesis, promoting tumor metastasis, and mediating immune resistance. As an emerging target of tumor immunotherapy, TAM provides new ideas for targeted therapy for CCA. This article reviews the mechanisms of TAM in promoting the progression of CCA and immunotherapy targeting TAM in recent years.

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) refers to adenocarcinoma originating from the secondary bile ducts and their branches within the liver, with high malignancy and poor prognosis. Radical surgical resection is currently the only possible way to cure ICC, but only some patients meet the surgical standards, and even with surgical resection, about 60% of patients will relapse within 1~2 years. Neoadjuvant therapy and adjuvant therapy are important perioperative treatment methods for ICC, with the aim of reducing postoperative recurrence and improving postoperative survival. This article aims to elaborate on the current status and research progress of neoadjuvant therapy and adjuvant therapy for ICC.

Analysis of 17 cases of Vaterian system adenomyomatous hyperplasia / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective:To study the features of adenomyomatous hyperplasia (AH) of the Vaterian system (common bile duct and ampulla of Vater) to help in the diagnosis and management of this disease.Methods:A retrospective analysis on the data of 17 patients who had a postoperative pathological diagnosis of AH of the Vaterian system treated from January 2005 to December 2021 at the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital was carried out with 12 males and 5 females, aged (58.4±11.3) years. The clinical presentations, treatment and postoperative pathology of these patients were analyzed. Patients with dysplasia of the tubular mucosal epithelium in the non-cancerous area around the AH under microscopy were included in the AH with dysplasia group ( n=8), and those without dysplasia were included in the control group ( n=9). The clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. Results:The main clinical symptoms were abdominal pain in 8 patients, jaundice in 7 patients and fever in 2 patients. Preoperative imaging showed 10 cases of occupying lesions and 6 cases of abnormally dilated intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts without obvious lesions or stones or biliary tract injury stenosis. Sixteen patients underwent radical pancreaticoduodenectomy, and 1 patient underwent extrahepatic biliary resection combined with choledochojejunostomy for bile duct obstruction due to biliary stones, 3 patients had combined malignant tumors, 1 patient had a carcinoma of AH origin at the ampulla of Vater, and the other 2 patients had neoplastic lesions in the mucosal epithelium adjacent to the AH (cholangiocarcinoma and ampullary carcinoma, respectively). There were no significant differences in age, gender, bile duct stones, cholangitis, combined carcinoma and liver function indexes between the two groups of patients with AH of the Vaterian system (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Adenomyomatous hyperplasia of the Vaterian system was difficult to distinguish preoperatively from malignant tumors basing on its clinical presentations or imaging findings. Such patients are recommended to be treated surgically.

The effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic versus open hepatectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a meta-analysis / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective:To compare the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) versus open hepatectomy (OH) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC).Methods:PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine Disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database and VIP Database were searched from inception of these databases to May 2022 to compare LH versus OH for ICC. The duration of operation, intraoperative bleeding, proportion of patients with intraoperative blood transfusion, number of resected lymph nodes, proportion of patients with R 0 resection margin, duration of hepatic occlusion, hospital stay, incidence of postoperative complication and postoperative mortality were compared between the two groups. Meta-analysis was carried out using the Review Manager 5.1 software, and the mean difference ( MD) or odds ratio ( OR) was used as the effect index. Results:This meta-analysis included twelve articles, all of which were retrospective cohort studies, with 3 189 patients. There were 667 patients in the LH group and 2 512 in the OH group. Meta-analysis showed that when compared to the OH group, the LH group had significantly less intraoperative bleeding ( MD=-116.06, 95% CI: -173.07--59.06, P<0.001), less proportion of patients receiving intraoperative blood transfusion ( OR=0.25, 95% CI: 0.10-0.62, P=0.003), less number of lymph nodes removed ( MD=-101.91, 95% CI: -124.78--79.03, P<0.001), less patients underwent portal occlusion ( OR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.14 - 0.99, P=0.050), shorter hospital stay ( MD=-2.43, 95% CI: -4.59--0.28, P=0.030) and less postoperative complications ( OR=0.41, 95% CI: 0.28-0.61, P<0.001). However, the proportion of patients with R 0 margin ( OR=1.49, 95% CI: 1.14-1.95, P=0.003) in the LH group was significantly higher than the OH group. There were no significant differences in operative time and postoperative mortality between the 2 groups. Conclusion:LH was more effective and safe than OH in the treatment of ICC. However, its long-term effect still needs to be verified by large randomized controlled trials.

Research progress of exocrine non-coding RNA in cholangiocarcinoma / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common malignant tumor in primary liver tumors, which has high malignant degree and poor prognosis. At present, there is no satisfactory and effective treatment method. Exosomes from various cells carry a variety of substances and act on the receptor cells, transmitting biological messages between different cells to regulate a variety of physiological and pathological changes. Exosomes can affect the tumor microenvironment and further mediate the tumorigenesis and progression of tumors via multiple approaches. Increasing studies have demonstrated that the non-coding RNA (ncRNAs) carried by tumor-derived exosomes is involved in regulating the occurrence, development and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma. Combined with the current research progress, this article summarizes the role, diagnosis and treatment value of exosome ncRNAs in cholangiocarcinoma, so as to provide references for follow-up research.

Current status of targeted therapy for cholangiocarcinoma / 国际外科学杂志

Cholangiocarcinoma is a group of highly invasive and heterogeneous biliary malignancies originating from any part of the biliary tree. At present, the most ideal treatment is still radical surgery.Gemcitabine combined with cisplatin (gem-cis) has been recognized as the standard first-line chemotherapy regimen for patients with unresectable, advanced or metastatic disease.In recent years, with the proposal of precision medicine and the development of next-generation sequencing technologies, A large number of important cholangiocarcinoma targets have been discovered, such as FGFR, IDH, VEGFR, BRAF, MET, etc., and the research on corresponding target drugs is booming.By referring to relevant literature and data, combined with domestic and foreign clinical trials, this paper reviews the important targets of cholangiocarcinoma and the latest progress of targeted drug therapy.

Clinical effect of liver transplantation on hilar cholangiocarcinoma / 国际外科学杂志

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma(HCCA) is a relatively rare disease with great invasiveness. Traditionally, radical resection has been considered the cornerstone of its treatment. However, only less than 40% of cases can be resected. Surgical resection is complex, risky and difficult to achieve R0 resection and may lead to various postoperative complications. In recent years, the combination of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with liver transplantation(LT) has provided an option for patients with unresectable diseases, and strict patient screening criteria has allowed LT protocol to achieve promising therapeutic effects in PCCA. In order to provide an intellectual background for the choice of LT protocol in the clinical treatment of HCCA patients, this article will review the application standards of LT in HCCA, summarize the application status of LT in patients with different resectability, compare the prognostic effect of resection and LT, and introduce the advantages of LT in the treatment of HCCA associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC).

Research progress and prospect of surgical treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in the era of liver transplantation / 国际外科学杂志

The incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma has been increasing worldwide in recent years. Hepatectomy is the first choice for surgical treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. However, due to high tumor invasion, early lymph node metastasis and other factors, only less than 30% of cases are resectable, and the overall prognosis of patients is very poor. Theoretically, liver transplantation can not only remove the tumor, but also replace the damaged liver. Therefore, many scholars have proposed liver transplantation for the treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in order to obtain better results. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was once listed as a contraindication of liver transplantation due to limited cases, tumor recurrence, and shortage of donors. However, with the optimization of recipient screening criteria and the development of neoadjuvant therapy, part of patients can also benefit from it, making liver transplantation a potential therapeutic strategy. Based on the literature review and the author′s experience, this article introduced the current situation of surgical treatment of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, the comparison between hepatectomy and liver transplantation, the latest progress of liver transplantation treatment and the future challenges and solutions.