Treatment of unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma using transarterial chemoembolisation with irinotecan-eluting beads: analysis of efficacy and safety.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and factors affecting the prognosis of transarterial chemoembolisation with irinotecan-eluting beads with CalliSpheres (DEB-TACE) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We retrospectively collected data on 39 patients with unresectable ICC who received DEB-TACE therapy. We assessed the indicators of tumour response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and the incidence of adverse events. PFS and OS were analysed using Kaplan-Meier curves, while Cox analysis was used to identify factors affecting the prognosis.

RESULTS:

The 3-month objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) of the 39 patients with unresectable ICC were 35.9% and 56.4%, respectively, while the 6-month ORR and DCR were 23.0% and 40.9%, respectively. The median OS and PFS were 11.0 months and 8.0 months, respectively. Cox analysis demonstrated that combined therapy (adjuvant sorafenib after DEB-TACE) and a low cancer antigen (CA) 125 level (≤ 35 U/ml) were independent favourable prognostic factors. Transient elevation of the aminotransferase level, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, and hyper-bilirubinaemia were common adverse events in patients with unresectable ICC treated with DEB-TACE with CalliSphere beads (CBs). Hepatic abscess was the most serious complication, observed in one patient.

CONCLUSIONS:

DEB-TACE with CBs is a safe and well-tolerated therapy in patients with unresectable ICC with a low incidence of adverse events and relatively prolonged survival. Combined therapy and low CA125 are prognostic factors associated with longer survival.

• Authors: Dong Liu, Junxiao Wang, Zhenhu Ma, Ning Zhang, Yun Zhao, Xiang Yang, Zhenyu Wen, Hui Xie
• Journal: Cardiovascular and interventional radiology (Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol) Vol. 45 Issue 8 Pg. 1092-1101 (Aug 2022) ISSN: 1432-086X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35588011 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE).

Chemical References

• Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
• Irinotecan

Topics

• Bile Duct Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic (pathology)
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (therapy)
• Chemoembolization, Therapeutic (adverse effects)
• Cholangiocarcinoma (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Irinotecan
• Liver Neoplasms (therapy)
• Retrospective Studies
• Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
• Treatment Outcome