Korean J Gastrointest Endosc.  2011 Jan;42(1):6-10.

The Long-term Outcome and Predictors for Increased Survival after PDT for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

• Ahn JH
• Cheon YK
• Cho YD
• Choi HJ
• Moon JH
• Lee TH
• Park SH
• Shim CS

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has a promising effect on nonresectable cholangiocarcinoma (CC) but its long term data is not yet available. This study examined the long term outcome and factors associated with increased survival after performing PDT for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
METHODS
A list of 393 patients with a diagnosis of hilar CC was retrieved from the database of Soonchunhyang University Hospital (Seoul, Korea) and these patients were seen from January 1, 2001, to April 1, 2010. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 74 patients who underwent PDT in addition to biliary stenting with/without chemoradiation.
RESULTS
The median overall survival from the date of diagnosis to death or to the last follow-up was 11.7 months (range: 2.2~78.4). After performing PDT, a complete remission was observed in 1.3% (1/74) of the patients who had a superficial depth of tumor without lymph node involvement. On multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model, increasing the time to treatment after the diagnosis was a statistically significant predictor of shorter survival after PDT [Odds ratio: 3.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.90~4.71, p=0.034].
CONCLUSIONS
Although PDT does not prevent progression of CC, it appears to control the cholestasis. The early treatment of PDT after the diagnosis showed a survival benefit for patients with advanced hilar CC.

Keyword

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma; Photodynamic therapy; Survival

MeSH Terms

Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholestasis
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Multivariate Analysis
Photochemotherapy
Retrospective Studies
Stents
Time-to-Treatment
Triazenes
Triazenes