Stereotactic body radiotherapy dose and its impact on local control and overall survival of patients for locally advanced intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract Purpose Non-resectable cholangiocarcinoma (CCC) is a significant therapeutic challenge because of bad prognosis. This study analyzed the outcome after SBRT for intra- and extrahepatic CCC. Material and methods Sixty-four patients with 82 CCC lesions from a retrospective multicenter database were analyzed. Available parameters were analyzed for local control (LC), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. Results Median follow-up time for patients alive was 35 months (range 7–91 months). Median overall survival (OS) time was 15 months; 2-year and 3-year OS rates were 32% and 21%. Median prescribed biological effective radiation dose (BED, α/β  = 10) was 67.2 Gy 10 (range, 36–115 Gy 10 ; SD: 20 Gy 10 ) in median 8 fractions (range, 3–17; 95% CI: 3–12), median BED max was 91 Gy 10 . BED was the only prognostic factor for LC and OS. Patients receiving BED max >91 Gy 10 had a median OS of 24 months vs. 13 months for those receiving lower doses ( p  = 0.008). LC rates at 12 and 24 months were 91% and 80% for BED max >91 Gy 10 vs. 66% and 39% for lower doses ( p  = 0.009). Of note, tumor size and PTV were neither predictive nor prognostic for LC and OS. Treatment tolerance was good with 17% of grade 1 gastroduodenitis, 11% of grade 2–3 cholangitis and 4.7% of grade 3 gastrointestinal bleeding. Conclusion This is the largest reported series on SBRT in cholangiocarcinoma. Overall survival and local control were significantly improved after higher doses (BED) and tolerance was excellent.