The FDA has granted accelerated approval to futibatinib (Lytgobi®, Taiho Oncology, Inc.) for treatment of previously treated, unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) with fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene fusions or rearrangements. "Survival outcomes are historically poor in patients with advanced/metastatic iCCA, with median overall survival times of approximately one year with first-line gemcitabine plus cisplatin and approximately si...

An educational activity provided by i3 Health has addressed knowledge gaps and produced expertise pertaining to treatment strategies for cholangiocarcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer, is a rare malignancy originating in the epithelium of the bile duct. The American Cancer Society estimates that 8,000 cases of bile duct cancer are diagnosed each year, but it is acknowledged that this number could be higher due to the cancer being hard to diagnose and the potential for mis...

With an estimated incidence of 8,000 new cases per year, cholangiocarcinoma is a rare and aggressive tumor type that accounts for only 3% of all gastrointestinal cancers. Outcomes are poor, with 5-year survival rates ranging from 24% to as low as 2%. In this episode of Oncology Data Advisor, Mitesh J. Borad, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Liver and Biliary Cancer Research Program at the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Phoenix, Arizona, joins i3 Health for a discussion that ...

The FDA has granted approval to ivosidenib (Tibsovo®, Servier Pharmaceuticals) for patients with previously treated, locally advanced, or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma that has an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutation. In addition, the FDA approved the Oncomine™ Dx Target Test (Life Technologies Corporation) as a companion diagnostic device to determine eligibility for treatment with ivosidenib. "Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations occur in approximately 13% of patients with intrahe...

According to a recent study, led by Vivek Subbiah, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, dabrafenib in combination with trametinib is an effective treatment option for patients with BRAFV600E -mutated biliary tract cancer (BTC). In an interview with i3 Health, Dr. Subbiah shares insights on the significance of these study results and unmet needs and future treatment in this patient population. What are the most challenging aspects of treating patients with BRAFV600E -mutated ...

Patients with biliary tract cancer often experience disease relapse after gemcitabine-based chemotherapy, representing an area of need in this patient population. In 5% of biliary tract tumors, a mutation in the BRAF gene is found. Dabrafenib in combination with trametinib has been shown to be an effective treatment option for patients with BRAFV600E – mutated cancers, particularly those with biliary tract cancer, according to a recent study, results of which were published in The Lancet Oncolog...

Often, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 2 gene alterations occur in the pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma. The FDA recently approved an oral inhibitor of FGFR2, pemigatinib (PemazyreTM, Incyte Corporation), which has shown efficacy in patients with previously treated, locally advanced, or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with and without FGFR2 gene alterations. FoundationOne®CDx was also approved as a companion diagnostic test for this indication.  FDA approval was based on a cli...

Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) 2 gene alterations can occur in the pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma. Pemigatinib (PemazyreTM, Incyte Corporation), a newly FDA approved oral inhibitor of FGFR2, has shown efficacy in patients with previously treated, locally advanced, or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with and without FGFR2 gene alterations. Approval was granted based a study led by Ghassan Abou-Alfa, MD, MBA from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In an interview with i3 Health, D...

​Biliary tract cancers have a dismal prognosis, with five-year survival rates ranging from 5% to 15%. In their publication in JAMA Oncology, Sarah S. Jackson, PhD, and colleagues report that aspirin increases survival in biliary tract cancers, including gallbladder cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, ampulla of Vater cancer, and overlapping lesions of the biliary tract. In this interview with i3 Health, Dr. Jackson discusses the potential ramifications of her study's findings. What led you to pursue thi...

​Researchers have now revealed that aspirin can increase the dismal survival chances for biliary tract cancers. Because these rare diseases may not produce symptoms until the later stages, 60% to 70% of patients with biliary tract cancers present with later-stage disease. Less than 10% have resectable tumors at the time of diagnosis, and 50% present with lymph node metastasis. As a result, the median survival is under a year, with five-year survival rates ranging from 5% to 15%. "There is a crit...