Affiliation:
1. Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
Abstract
Background:
Biliary Tract Cancers (BTC) are rare malignancies with a poor prognosis.
There are many challenges encountered in treating these patients in daily practice as well as in clinical,
translational and basic research.
Objective:
This review summarises the most relevant challenges in clinical and translational research in
BTCs and suggests potential solutions towards an improvement in quality of life and outcomes of patients
diagnosed with such malignancies.
Findings:
The main challenge is the low number of patients with BTCs, complicated by the aggressive
natural behaviour of cancer and the lack of funding sources for research. In addition, the clinical characteristics
of these patients and the specific cancer-related complications challenge clinical research and
clinical trial recruitment. It is worth highlighting that BTCs are a group of different malignancies (cholangiocarcinoma,
gallbladder cancer and ampullary cancer) rather than a unique homogeneous disease.
These subgroups differ not only in molecular aspects, but also in clinical and demographic characteristics.
In addition, tailored imaging and quality of life assessment are required to tackle some of the issues
specific to BTCs. Finally, difficulties in tissue acquisition both in terms of biopsy size and inclusion
of sufficient tumour within the samples, may adversely impact translational and basic research.
Conclusion:
Increasing awareness among patients and clinicians regarding BTC and the need for further
research and treatment development may address some of the main challenges in BTC research.
International collaboration is mandatory to progress the field.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Pharmacology,Molecular Medicine,Drug Discovery,Biochemistry,Organic Chemistry
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