Factors associated with prognosis and staging of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a relatively rare but aggressive primary liver cancer with a poor prognosis. A number of established clinical and pathologic factors correlate with prognosis, and this is reflected in the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th Edition staging manual. Researchers have identified areas for improvement in staging and prognostication of ICC using more nuanced tools, including serum biomarkers, molecular profiling, immunophenotyping, and multimodal prognostic scoring systems. These data have led to proposals of novel staging systems that attempt to improve the correlation between stage and prognosis. More accurate staging tools may aid in treatment decisions that are tailored to each individual patient, to maximize therapy for individuals most likely to benefit and to avoid unnecessary toxicity and decision regret in those for whom aggressive treatment is unlikely to alter outcomes. Artificial intelligence and machine learning may help researchers develop new models that predict outcomes with more accuracy and precision.