Cholangiocarcinoma
Specialized care for bile duct cancer, including surgical options, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
Cholangiocarcinoma
Solid Tumors
Overview
Specialized care for bile duct cancer, including surgical options, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
When to Consult
Upon diagnosis of bile duct cancer or suspicious imaging findings.
What to Bring
CT/MRI scans, ERCP reports, biopsy results, and blood test reports.
Risk Factors
Causes
Treatment Options
Surgery
Surgical resection of the bile duct tumor, which may include partial liver resection, bile duct reconstruction, or Whipple procedure depending on tumor location. Complete surgical removal offers the best chance of cure for resectable tumors.
Liver Transplantation
For selected patients with early-stage hilar cholangiocarcinoma, liver transplantation may be considered, often combined with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy to improve outcomes.
Chemotherapy
Systemic chemotherapy using gemcitabine and cisplatin combination as first-line treatment. May be used before surgery (neoadjuvant), after surgery (adjuvant), or for advanced/metastatic disease. Other regimens include FOLFOX or capecitabine-based combinations.
Targeted Therapy
Precision medicine based on molecular profiling. FGFR inhibitors (pemigatinib, infigratinib) for FGFR2 fusion-positive tumors, IDH1 inhibitors for IDH1-mutated cancers, and other targeted agents based on genetic mutations.
Radiation Therapy
External beam radiation or brachytherapy to control local tumor growth, often combined with chemotherapy (chemoradiation). Used for unresectable tumors, as neoadjuvant therapy, or for palliative symptom control.
Biliary Drainage & Stenting
Endoscopic or percutaneous procedures to relieve bile duct obstruction, improve liver function, and manage jaundice. Essential supportive care to maintain quality of life and enable other treatments.