Unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy: a 9-year survival case

Abstract

Patients with advanced unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma have poor prognosis, and the survival is usually short. Herein, we report a 9-year survival case of unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy. A 64-year-old male patient presented with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The tumor was located in the right hepatic duct, and it extended from the bifurcation of the anterior and posterior branches to the periphery. In the left side, the tumor extended from the umbilical portion to B2 and B3. However, there was no distant metastasis. The patient was then diagnosed with locally advanced, unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma and was treated with chemoradiotherapy. He received a total dose of 60 Gy in 30 daily fractions via intensity-modulated radiation therapy. In addition, he received gemcitabine chemotherapy for 5 years. There has been neither re-elevation of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels nor tumor relapse for 5 years during chemotherapy. Therefore, gemcitabine treatment was discontinued. However, the patient experienced tumor relapse 3 years after the last chemotherapy. Hence, chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin was initiated. At present, 1 year has passed after treatment for recurrence, and the patient has survived for 9 years since the initial treatment. Herein, we report a rare case of long-term survival with chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma.