Systemic therapy of cholangiocarcinoma: From chemotherapy to targeted therapies

N Schweitzer; A Vogel

doi:10.1016/j.bpg.2015.01.002

Systemic therapy of cholangiocarcinoma: From chemotherapy to targeted therapies

Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2015 Apr;29(2):345-53. doi: 10.1016/j.bpg.2015.01.002. Epub 2015 Feb 19.

Authors

N Schweitzer¹, A Vogel²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endcrinology, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
² Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endcrinology, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: vogel.arndt@mh-hannover.de.

PMID: 25966433
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2015.01.002

Abstract

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCA) are rare tumors of the liver with poor prognosis. The standard of care in patients with unresectable tumors or metastatic disease is combination chemotherapy (CT) with gemcitabine and cisplatin. Targeted therapies inhibiting EGFR, VEGF, MEK and others are broadly tested in CCA but to date, the existing data from randomized and nonrandomized trials do not justify the application of small molecules outside of clinical trials. In clinical practice, many patients receive second-line CT after failure of gemcitabine/cisplatin, although there is so far no evidence to support second-line CT. This review summarizes current chemotherapy protocols and ongoing studies, including conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapies.

Keywords: Biliary tract cancer; Chemotherapy; Cholangiocarcinoma; Gemcitabine; Targeted therapy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
Bile Duct Neoplasms / drug therapy*
Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / pathology*
Cholangiocarcinoma / drug therapy*
Humans
Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods*