Molecular profiling of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: the search for new therapeutic targets.
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is the second most frequent primary tumor of the liver and a highly lethal disease. Therapeutic options for advanced iCCA are limited and ineffective due to the largely incomplete understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of this deadly tumor. Areas covered: The present review article outlines the main studies and resulting discoveries on the molecular profiling of iCCA, with a special emphasis on the different techniques used for this purpose, the diagnostic and prognostic markers identified, as well as the genes and pathways that could be potentially targeted with innovative therapies. Expert commentary: Molecular profiling has led to the identification of distinct iCCA subtypes, characterized by peculiar genetic alterations and transcriptomic features. Targeted therapies against some of the identified genes are ongoing and hold great promise to improve the prognosis of iCCA patients.
a Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Department of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen N , Denmark.
Douglas V N P
DV
Oliveira
b Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA.
Shanshan
S
Zhang
b Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center , University of California , San Francisco , CA , USA.
Xin
X
Chen
c Institute of Pathology, University Medicine of Greifswald , Greifswald , Germany.
Diego F
DF
Calvisi
a Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Department of Health and Medical Sciences , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen N , Denmark.
Jesper B
JB
Andersen
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015195:Drug Design; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D059467:Transcriptome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA); molecular profiling; precision medicine; signaling pathways; therapeutic targets