The impact of liver resection on survival for locally advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma tumors: A propensity score analysis

BACKGROUND: Aim of work was to investigate the prognostic impact of liver resection (LR) on locally advanced Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (IC) in comparison to alternative palliative chemotherapy (CTx).

METHOD: A retrospective cohort study performed utilizing Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify Locally advanced IC patients. Based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging System, locally advanced IC was defined as: Stage III and IVa - 7th edition (7th-ed) or stage III - 8th edition (8th-ed). Study population were sub-classified into: LR group and a propensity score (PS) matched CTx group.

RESULTS: In 7th-ed module, the median survival for LR group (n = 154) was 35 months, and the 3-year survival rate was 40.8%. In PS matched CTx group (n = 154); the median survival was 14 months and the 3-year survival rate was 5.5% (P = 0.007). Survival rates were superior for LR group over PS matched CTx group in 8th-ed module as well. Worse prognosis has been reported in LR patients above 65 years old (HR 2.618, P = 001) and in multifocal lesions (HR 1.890, P = 0.025).

CONCLUSION: Hepatic resection was associated with a favorable impact on prognosis over chemotherapy for IC stage III and IVa of the 7th edition and for stage IIIb of 8th edition of AJCC staging system. Worse outcome has been observed in LR patients >65 years and with multifocal lesions. Randomized control studies are recommended to confirm the role of surgical resection in the management for advanced cases of IC, and to clarify the related prognostic factors.