Disparities in Gallbladder Cancer: Epidemiology, Molecular Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare yet highly aggressive malignancy and remains the most prevalent cancer of the biliary tract. The pathogenesis is multifactorial, involving chronic inflammation, gallstone disease, genetic predisposition, and environmental and lifestyle determinants. Notably, GBC exhibits pronounced disparities across multiple dimensions, including sex, geography, ethnicity, and others which altogether shape disease incidence and outcomes. Using protein-protein interaction and gene ontology analyses, we identify candidate molecular pathways and genes implicated in GBC pathogenesis that may differentially operate across biological contexts, some of which are supported by prior experimental findings. This review examines the varied disparities in GBC, emphasising variations in incidence, pathophysiology, risk profiles, and therapeutic responses.