Radiation Therapy for Liver and Biliary Tract Cancers

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Hepatology
• Radiation Oncology

Background:

• Primary liver and biliary tract cancers are leading causes of cancer death globally.
• In 2022, these cancers resulted in over 866,000 new cases and 758,000 deaths worldwide.
• Despite advances in surgery, transplantation, and systemic therapies, patient survival remains poor due to factors like cirrhosis, vascular invasion, and advanced disease presentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the significant global burden of primary liver and biliary tract cancers.
• To underscore the limitations of current treatment modalities for these cancers.
• To emphasize the emerging role of modern radiation therapy in managing these malignancies.

Main Methods:

• Review of global cancer statistics for liver and biliary tract cancers.
• Analysis of treatment outcomes and limitations for hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer.
• Evaluation of modern radiation therapy as a treatment modality.

Main Results:

• Liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancers caused substantial mortality in 2022.
• Patient outcomes are often limited by underlying liver conditions, disease extent, and anatomical challenges.
• Modern radiation therapy has become a key local and regional treatment approach.

Conclusions:

• Radiation therapy is an important modality for hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer.
• Further research and integration of radiation therapy are needed to improve survival rates for liver and biliary tract cancers.