title: Biological characteristics of cancers in the gallbladder and biliary tract and targeted therapy.
abstract: Adenocarcinomas of the gallbladder (GBC) and bile ducts (cholangiocarcinoma) (combined as biliary tract cancers, BTC) are uncommon tumors in the United States, but are endemic in parts of South America and Asia. BTC are aggressive tumors with poor survival. Published response rates to chemotherapy are less than 30% and no survival benefit has been demonstrated from palliative systemic therapy. Improved understanding of the biological characteristics and molecular carcinogenic mechanisms of these malignancies may lead to improved therapeutic regimens for patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 426, Houston, TX 77030, USA. methomas@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Melanie B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents