Chemo Alone or in Combination With Radiation in Unresectable Cholangiocarcinoma

Summary

Participation Requirements

Description

Currently the standard of care of unresectable non-metastatic cholangiocarcinoma is chemotherapy which has a median survival of 11.7 months (ABC-02 study). While this study included almost 60% of patients with cholangiocarcinomas (intrahepatic, extra hepatic and hilar), almost 73-76% of patients in ...

Currently the standard of care of unresectable non-metastatic cholangiocarcinoma is chemotherapy which has a median survival of 11.7 months (ABC-02 study). While this study included almost 60% of patients with cholangiocarcinomas (intrahepatic, extra hepatic and hilar), almost 73-76% of patients in each arm had metastases to begin with. And while the overall survival of the entire cohort was significantly improved by gemcitabine plus cisplatin compared to cisplatin alone, the hazard ratios for intrahepatic {0.57 (0.34-0.94)}, extra hepatic {0.73 (0.43-1.23)} and hilar cholangiocarcinomas {0.59 (0.32-1.09)} were all insignificant. Even though concurrent chemoradiation+/= brachytherapy has been used for management of cholangiocarcinomas for more than 3 decades the lack of level I evidence prevents from it being recommended as the first line management across multidisciplinary clinics. While either modality alone rarely yields survival of more than 12 months, recent reports of improved median survival with combination of high dose radiation and systemic chemotherapy necessitates investigation into role of combination of high dose (chemo) radiation and systemic chemotherapy. All patients with diagnosis of nonmetastatic unresectable cholangiocarcinoma who fulfill the study eligibility criteria will be evaluated for study participation. Patients will undergo upfront randomization into one of the study arms (systemic chemotherapy alone vs Systemic chemotherapy+ High dose radiation) The study stratification criteria will be done according the primary site i.e. Intrahepatic vs Extrahepatic.

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