[CA19-9 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma : A diagnostic and prognostic armamentarium?] / CA19-9 beim intrahepatischen Cholangiokarzinom : Ein diagnostisches und prognostisches Armamentarium?

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas are the second most common malignant tumors of the liver with an unfavorable prognosis. The role of CA19-9 in terms of patient prognosis is still under debate in the literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of preoperatively assessed CA19-9 levels in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 63 patients suffering from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma underwent surgery between March 2001 and February 2013 at the West German Cancer Center in Essen, Germany. The follow-up ended in December 2017. The UICC stages, clinicopathological parameters and postoperative tumor-specific survival rates were analyzed with respect to preoperatively measured CA19-9 serum levels. RESULTS: Increased CA19-9 serum levels correlated with higher UICC tumor stages and other unfavorable clinicopathological parameters. Moreover, patients with preoperative elevated CA19-9 serum levels displayed significantly reduced overall survival rates (especially >1000 U/ml vs. ≤1000 U/ml; median overall survival: 14.05 months vs. 42.40 months; p = 0.0003). CONCLUSION: Preoperatively assessed CA19-9 levels >1000 U/ml are a strong negative prognostic factor of postoperative disease-specific survival in patients suffering from intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Future studies are necessary to evaluate if patients with highly elevated CA19-9 serum levels should be considered for modified treatment strategies (e. g. neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy).

[Klatskin tumor: long-term survival following surgery]. / Klatskin-Tumor: Langzeitüberleben nach Operation.

BACKGROUND: Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin tumor) is a rare tumor entity with an unfavorable prognosis despite optimal treatment. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to investigate beneficial histopathological features and recommendations for surgery in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma to improve patients' long term survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 192 patients suffering from perihilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent attempted tumor resection between 1998 and 2008 at our clinic. 50 patients survived more than 2 years. The follow-up ended in December 2013. The resection type, the UICC stage and histopathological features were compared between three groups (2-3-year, 3-5-year and > 5-year survival groups). RESULTS: The overall 5­year survival rate of the study groups was 32 %, and even 16 % survived more than 10 years after surgery. Patients with lymph node positive tumors (p = 0.0126) and distant metastasis (p = 0.0376) had the poorest survival rate. Perineural invasion had no significant impact on the overall survival, but patients surviving more than 5 years had the lowest incidence of perineural invasion with 18.75 %. Caudate lobectomy was significantly (p = 0.011) associated with a survival of more than 5 years in our study. CONCLUSIONS: Complete tumor resection with additional caudate lobe resection is associated with long-term survival. Perineural invasion seems to be a negative prognostic factor for long-term survival.