Cholangiocarcinoma, a malignancy that arises from the epithelial cells of the biliary tree, causes significant morbidity and mortality, with an average 5-year survival rate of 5% to 10%.1 Cure is achieved only through surgical resection; yet, greater than 80% of patients present at an advanced and unresectable stage,2 resulting in a 3- to 6-month median survival from the time of diagnosis.3 Various palliative treatment strategies have been offered, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and biliary drainage (endoscopic or percutaneous), but none have shown a definitive survival benefit.2,3 Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising new treatment modality for nonresectable cholangiocarcinoma. Its benefits include symptomatic improvement and prolonged survival with relatively few complications.2

With PDT, a photosensitizing agent is preferentially retained by the malignant tissue. Following laser activation at a distinct wavelength, toxic oxygen radicals induce apoptosis of malignant cells and cause tumor necrosis.2-4 PDT has been reported to have a minimal side effect profile, with the most frequently encountered adverse effect being phototoxicity to the skin.2

In the last few years we have seen the rise of cholangioscopy-guided PDT, which allows better identification of tumor margins, permits targeted laser illumination, and aids in evaluating the response to therapy.5,6 We now report our experience with PDT, in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma over the past 6 years.

Fifty-five patients (31 males, 24 females) with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma received treatment with PDT between 2004 and 2010. Twenty-five patients received chemotherapy with various combinations of gemcitabine and capecetabine; and one received radiation therapy only along with PDT. Twenty-nine patients received PDT only.

The median age was 69 years (range, 30 to 87). Results are summarized in Table 2. The median interval between presentation and first PDT session was 63 days and there was a median follow-up of 133 days (range, 11 to 1,190). The mean number of PDT sessions was 1.9±1.5 sessions (median, 1; range, 1 to 9). There was a mean survival of 293±266 days (median, 190; range, 25 to 1,332). Median survival of patients who received PDT and chemotherapy/radiation therapy was 257 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 166 to 528) while medial survival duration of the PDT only group was 183 days (95% CI, 129 to 224).

During follow-up, 49/55 patients died from progression or complications of their underlying disease. There were no procedure related deaths.

Twenty-eight (51%) developed interval cholangitis requiring stent revision. All of these patients showed Bismuth type III and IV lesions. Other non-PDT related complications included: six (11%) hepatic abscess, one (2%) gallbladder perforation, two (3%) peritonitis, related to systemic infection, two (3%) pancreatitis, two (3%) hemobilia, and three (5%) cholecystitis. Eight patients experienced PDT related adverse events, including the following: three (5%) facial burn, three (5%) photosensitivity, and two (3%) rash.

Kaplan-Meier analysis (Fig. 4) was performed comparing the group of patients who received PDT and chemotherapy/radiation therapy versus those who received PDT only.

After adjusting for age, sex, and Bismuth classification, there was no significant difference in the survival means of both groups (log-rank p=0.20).

Palliative therapy is the mainstay of treatment in patients who present with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma. Biliary decompression, which is usually accomplished via endoscopic stent placement, can result in symptom improvement and prevent complications such as cholangitis and sepsis; however, stent placement has not been shown to have any survival benefit2 and is limited by recurrent stent occlusion. Additionally, successful drainage through stent placement proves to be more difficult in proximal tumors,7 necessitating the search for a better treatment modality.

Numerous studies, including two randomized clinical trials, have found that PDT is superior to biliary stenting alone in the treatment of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, improving both survival as well as quality of life.2,3,8-13 Additionally, it was recently shown that survival in patients who underwent PDT was similar to those in whom curative surgery was attempted but who had positive resection margins, despite the fact that the PDT group had more advanced clinical T stages.14

Utilization of cholangioscopy with PDT allows direct visualization of the biliary tree, leading to improvements in diagnosis and treatment. It also has been shown to influence decisions regarding patient management.5,6 Our group compared PDT versus SOC directed PDT and found the therapies to be comparable without an increase in adverse complications, but with decreased radiation exposure in the SOC-directed group.15 Another recent study demonstrated that direct POC-guided PDT using an ultraslim upper endoscope is both feasible and safe in select patients with inoperable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.16

Our center's cumulative experience with PDT for the treatment of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, which is one of the largest studies to date, again demonstrated its survival benefit, with a mean survival of 293±266 days (median, 190; range, 25 to 1,332). No difference in survival times was noted between those treated with PDT alone and those with PDT and chemo or radiation therapy. However, despite its benefit, PDT was also associated with a substantial incidence of cholangitis requiring stent revision, occurring in just over 50% of our patients. A review of 20 studies of PDT in cholangiocarcinoma found the overall incidence of cholangitis to be 27.5%,2 with the largest clinical trial showing an incidence of 56%.17 Another recent study showed a 57% incidence of cholangitis with PDT.12 Although cholangitis can be a complication of stenting itself, seen in 20% to 40% of cases using plastic stents and 4.9% to 6% of cases using bare metal stents,18 the high rate of cholangitis post-PDT is likely the result of necrosis associated with this therapy. Given the frequency with which this complication occurs, aggressive stenting posttherapy is required. This is a commitment that both physician and patient must be aware of before commencing therapy.

In conclusion, use of PDT for the treatment of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma is associated with increased survival compared to stenting alone. However, PDT therapy is associated with high rates of cholangitis and stent revision, indicating the need for aggressive stenting posttherapy. A prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm the benefit of PDT with stenting versus stenting alone as well as the benefit of PDT plus chemotherapy and radiation therapy compared with PDT alone.