Cholangiocarcinoma: update and future perspectives.
Cholangiocarcinoma is commonly considered a rare cancer. However, if we consider the hepato-biliary system a single entity, cancers of the gallbladder, intra-hepatic and extra-hepatic biliary tree altogether represent approximately 30% of the total with incidence rates close to that of hepatocellular carcinoma, which is the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In addition, cholangiocarcinoma is characterized by a very poor prognosis and virtually no response to chemotherapeutics; radical surgery, the only effective treatment, is not frequently applicable because late diagnosis. Biomarkers for screening programs and for follow-up of categories at risk are under investigation, however, currently none of the proposed markers has reached clinical application. For all these considerations, cancers of the biliary tree system should merit much more scientific attention also because a progressive increase in incidence and mortality for these cancers has been reported worldwide. This manuscript deals with the most recent advances in the epidemiology, biology and clinical presentation of cholangiocarcinoma.
Gatto
Manuela
M
Department of Clinical Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Rome Sapienza, Polo Pontino, R. Rosselini 51, Rome, Italy.
Bragazzi
Maria Consiglia
MC
Semeraro
Rossella
R
Napoli
Cristina
C
Gentile
Raffaele
R
Torrice
Alessia
A
Gaudio
Eugenio
E
Alvaro
Domenico
D
D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D015415:Biomarkers; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers