Chemoradiotherapy of unresectable and recurrent cholangiocarcinoma

UNLABELLED: This study is for chemoradiotherapy of unresectable and recurrent cholangiocarcinoma (CCC). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between April 2005 and March 2007, 5 patients were evaluated for unresectable and recurrent CCC. All patients were performed percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and treated with chemoradiotherapy. The radiation method was an external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and remote after loading system (RALS). The chemotherapy was 5-FU and gemcitabine by intravenous injection. RESULTS: Three patients had unresectable and 2 had recurrent CCC. As for the side effects, 4 patients had a slight neutropenia and 1 had an uncontrollable gastric bleeding. No patient had cholangitis. The mean survival time for unresectable and recurrent CCC was 13.7 months and 17 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that chemoradiotherapy had been consistent with efficacy in patients with unresectable and recurrent CCC.