Integration of chemoembolization and radioembolization into multimodal treatment of cholangiocarcinoma

Over the last decade radioembolization and transarterial chemoembolization have been shown to be effective in unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma. Unfortunately, up to now the evidence is not high with most of the conclusions drawn from single center retrospective analyses with small sample sizes treated in the salvage situation. However, the results are promising and suggest a survival benefit in the treatment of unresectable cholangiocellular carcinoma, even in an advanced stage with extrahepatic disease. In the following, available results of the treatment of unresectable cholangiocellular carcinoma by radioembolization and transarterial chemoembolization will be summarized. Special attention will be given to prognostic factors and efficacy as measured by response criteria. The potential integration of these therapies into multimodal treatment concepts will be discussed with focus on the intensification of therapy and a staged concept of therapy.