Background/Aims
To investigative the potential role of postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) after R1 resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC).
Methods
Between January 2000 and December 2012, medical records of 18 patients who underwent curative surgery with R1 resection for IHCC were retrospectively reviewed.
Results
Median age was 68 years and 12 patients (66.7%) were male. Median tumor size was 5.0 cm (range, 2.2-11.0) and 12 patients (66.7%) had T3 or higher disease. Lymph nodes were involved in four patients (22.2%). Vascular invasion and perineural invasion were present in 10
(55.6%) and 12 patients (66.7%), respectively. Postoperative CCRT given with 5-fluorouracil or gemcitabine were delivered to 7 patients (38.9%). Median radiation dose was 50.4 Gy (range, 45-54). Univariate analysis showed that median loco-regional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were prolonged for patients treated with CCRT (median LRRFS; 5.6 months vs. not reached, P<0.001, median PFS; 5.6 vs. 8.3 months,
P=0.047, median OS; 15.0 vs. 26.6 months, P=0.064).
Conclusions
Postoperative CCRT improved the loco-regional control and PFS in IHCC patients with R1 resection. Further study is warranted to validate the role of postoperative CCRT for these patients.