Defining the Role of Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Biliary Tract Cancers: A Site-Specific Propensity-Matched Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Background: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) have distinct tumor biology but share a poor prognosis, with a 5-year-survival-rate of 5-19%. Surgical resection is the only potential cure, but recurrences are common. The role of adjuvant radiotherapy (XRT) remains unclear. Methods: Using the National Cancer Database (2006-2018), we analyzed resected non-metastatic BTCs. Patients who survived beyond 90 days post-surgery were included, while those with R2 resections or neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. Propensity matching was performed based on predictors of adjuvant radiation, age, and sex. Survival outcomes were compared between no adjuvant therapy, chemotherapy alone, and XRT ± chemotherapy. Results: Among 21,275 patients, including 5308 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC

SUBMITTER: Seo YD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11815919 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature