Assessing prognosis in cholangiocarcinoma: a review of promising genetic markers and imaging approaches

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Despite the progress in the treatment of liver cancer, the prognosis of CCA remains poor and the surgical resection remains the only treatment with a potentially curative intent to date.

Areas covered

Advances in the knowledge of cholangiocarcinoma regarding the mutational status and radiological of the tumor have been reviewed searching the most updated papers using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. Recent studies have investigated the mutational status and the imaging features of CCA patients in order to identify new factors correlated with the prognosis in CCA patients who underwent surgical resection. Moreover, the discovery of some gene mutations has led to the development of personalized therapy in CCA patients. Investigation of the mutational profile of CCA patients has been characterized by analysis of the incidence of single-gene mutations, patterns of gene mutations as well as the role of ncRNa alterations. Two innovative radiological sectors (radiomics and radiogenomics), investigating the associations between the imaging features and the molecular profiles, have contributed to knowledge of CCA biology.

Expert opinion

The analysis of the mutational profile and application of radiogenomics/radiomics represent promising fields in the identification of new targets toward a more personalized treatment approach for CCA patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Cholangiocarcinoma
• genetic markers
• radiomics
• radiogenomics
• targeted therapies

Article highlights

• Single gene mutational status varies among the anatomical location of the CCA

• Multi-omics analysis allowed for the identification of genetic mutational patterns

• The knowledge of gene mutations of CCA has facilitated the identification of new targets for a more personalized therapy

• Radiomics and radiogenomics could provide for more personal, patient-specific interpretations of CCA on imaging

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.