The use of locoregional therapies in cholangiocarcinoma.

Locoregional therapies in cholangiocarcinoma show 3-year overall survival rates ranging from 17% to 50% depending on the modality and disease site.

• Why it matters: Current standard systemic therapy for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma yields a median OS of 13 months, highlighting the need for additional treatment options to improve outcomes.
• What they did: A literature review identified clinical studies and ongoing trials evaluating locoregional therapies such as ablation, radiotherapy, and intra-arterial treatments in intrahepatic and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, with 3-year OS data reported for several modalities.
• The result: Findings suggest a trend toward combining locoregional with systemic therapies, but due to limited randomized trials, individualized, multidisciplinary treatment strategies are recommended until more evidence becomes available.