Liu JJ, Zhou M, Yuan T, Huang ZY, Zhang ZY. Conversion treatment for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Opportunities and challenges. World J Gastroenterol 2025; 31(15): 104901 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i15.104901]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Zun-Yi Zhang, MD, Associate Professor, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China. zunyizhangtjmu@163.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2025; 31(15): 104901 Published online Apr 21, 2025. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v31.i15.104901
Conversion treatment for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Opportunities and challenges
Jun-Jie Liu, Mi Zhou, Tong Yuan, Zhi-Yong Huang, Zun-Yi Zhang
Jun-Jie Liu, Mi Zhou, Tong Yuan, Zhi-Yong Huang, Zun-Yi Zhang, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
Co-corresponding authors: Zhi-Yong Huang and Zun-Yi Zhang.
Author contributions: Huang ZY and Zhang ZY conceived the overall concept and framework of the manuscript; Liu JJ contributed to writing, editing, illustrating, and reviewing the literature; Zhou M and Yuan T participated in the discussion and design of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version. Huang ZY and Zhang ZY contributed equally to this study and are recognized as co-corresponding authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Zun-Yi Zhang, MD, Associate Professor, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China. zunyizhangtjmu@163.com
Received: January 5, 2025 Revised: February 22, 2025 Accepted: March 26, 2025 Published online: April 21, 2025 Processing time: 102 Days and 22.3 Hours
Abstract
The prevalence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is increasing globally. Despite advancements in comprehending this intricate malignancy and formulating novel therapeutic approaches over the past few decades, the prognosis for ICC remains poor. Owing to the high degree of malignancy and insidious onset of ICC, numerous cases are detected at intermediate or advanced stages of the disease, hence eliminating the chance for surgical intervention. Moreover, because of the highly invasive characteristics of ICC, recurrence and metastasis postresection are prevalent, leading to a 5-year survival rate of only 20%-35% following surgery. In the past decade, different methods of treatment have been investigated, including transarterial chemoembolization, transarterial radioembolization, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, and combination therapies. For certain patients with advanced ICC, conversion treatment may be utilized to facilitate surgical resection and manage disease progression. This review summarizes the definition of downstaging conversion treatment and presents the clinical experience and evidence concerning conversion treatment for advanced ICC.
Core Tip: The conversion treatment for unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) can reduce tumor burden and enhance the likelihood of surgical resection. Chemotherapy is still the base treatment for advanced ICC. However, locoregional therapies and systemic therapies are promising treatment strategies for advanced ICC, aiming to enhance tumor response and improve patient outcomes. Achieving an adequate future liver remnant is crucial to prevent posthepatectomy liver failure; techniques are being investigated to enhance future liver remnant and improve outcomes in patients with advanced ICC.
