Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common cancer in males in Thailand. The outcome is poor although systemic chemotherapy has been used in attempts to improve disease control, quality of life and prolong survival in patient with unresectable and advanced disease. In this retrospective study the medical records of all patients diagnosed as having unresectable and metastatic cholangiocarcinoma and receiving systemic chemotherapy at Udonthani Cancer Hospital during January 2007 to December 2010 were reviewed. Among the total of 105 patients, 21 received gemcitabine-based chemotherapy and 84 5FU-based chemotherapy. Most received platinum doublet regimens. 5FU-based regimens yielded an overall response rate (tumor control) of 23.8% and a median survival of 7.2 months while gemcitabine-based regimens yielded an overall response rate (tumor control) 19.1% and a median survival of 10.0 months. Tumor control and survival of patient with advanced cholangiocarcinoma treated with gemcitabine-based and 5FU-based chemotherapy do not markedly differ.
Highlights
Cholangiocarcinoma arises from epithelial cells of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts (de Groen et al, 1999; Murad et al, 2009)
The outcome is poor systemic chemotherapy has been used in attempts to improve disease control, quality of life and prolong survival in patient with unresectable and advanced disease
In Udonthani Cancer Hospital, unresectable and metastatic cholangiocarcinoma patients were treated by systemic chemotherapy
Summary
Cholangiocarcinoma arises from epithelial cells of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts (de Groen et al, 1999; Murad et al, 2009) It is a rare cancer in United States and Europe (de Groen et al, 1999; Jemal et al, 2011), but common in Thailand. According to the randomized controlled phase III trial (ABC-02 trial), gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin significantly improved the median overall survival over gemcitabine alone (11.7 vs 8.1 months) in locally advanced and metastatic cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer, ampullary cancer (Valle et al, 2010). In Udonthani Cancer Hospital, unresectable and metastatic cholangiocarcinoma patients were treated by systemic chemotherapy. Both gemcitabine based and 5FU-based regimens have been used. This study is the retrospective analysis of the treatment outcome of palliative chemotherapy in unresectable and inoperable changiocarcinoma at medical oncology unit, Udonthani Cancer Hospital during 2007-2010
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