Early Detection of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Crucial

Incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is increasing worldwide and its prognosis is very poor. Therefore, further studies on its clinical characteristics for early detection and on surgical treatment for better prognosis are urgently needed.

A research team from the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China) retrospectively evaluated 5,311 liver cancer patients who received resection between October 1999 and December 2003. Of these, 429 (8.1%) patients were diagnosed with ICC, and their clinicopathologic, surgical, and survival characteristics were analyzed. Their study was published on December 21, 2009, in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

The study demonstrated that hepatitis B infection, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are associated with ICC development. CA19-9 levels are associated with lymph node metastases, but inversely with cirrhosis. Radical resection (R0) is the key prognostic factor for ICC.

Future studies, according to the researchers, should focus on evaluation of the molecule-targeted therapy, and whether it can effectively control this lethal disease to improve the survival of the patients.

Related Links:
Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University