Clinical Research Directory

LIver TrAnspLantation for Non-resectable Peri-HIlar cholangioCArcinoma (LITALHICA)

LITALHICA is a prospective non-randomized study aimed at exploring the outcome of liver transplantation in selected patients with unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) after treatment with standard of care chemotherapy, in terms of overall survival and quality of life. Additionally, the study aims to identify pre-transplant biological markers and clinical factors that can stratify patients with the best post-transplant prognosis. Finally, the study aims to investigate the role of preoperative PET-MRI, especially in relation to lymph node locations, by correlating the results with histological examination after hilar lymphadenectomy.

PD-1 Antibody Plus GEMOX as Postoperative Adjuvant Therapy in Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

This is an open-label,single center,non-randomized,single arm exploratory study. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PD-1 antibody plus GEMOX as postoperative adjuvant therapy in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma with positively metastatic lymph nodes.

Preoperative Evaluation of Lymph Nodes of Cholangiocarcinoma (POELH-III)

In the POELH-II trial (Clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT05678218) patients with presumed resectable perihilar (pCCA), intrahepatic (iCCA) or mid-common bile duct (CBD) cholangiocarcinoma had the outcomes of their preoperative endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) registered. This EUS procedure was done systematically, targeting lymph nodes (LNs) with the aim to identify LN metastases preoperatively. The goal of this follow-up observational cohort study (POELH-III) is to assess the yield of preoperative EUS, with an improved EUS approach. The EUS protocol as used in the POELH-II trial was improved based on preliminary results of the POELH-II trial. The main questions it aims to answer is: \- The number of patients precluded from surgical work-up due to positive regional or extraregional LNs identified by EUS guided tissue acquisition

Liver Transplantation for Non-resectable Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

The study will investigate whether liver transplantation provides increased survival, low side effects and good quality of life in patients with bile duct cancer where the tumor cannot be removed by normal surgery. Analyzes of blood and tissue samples from the tumor will be investigated to see if the analyzes can indicate who may have recurrence of the disease after liver transplantation. Furthermore, the effect of chemotherapy on normal liver and tumor tissues in the liver that are removed during transplantation will be investigated.

Liver Transplantation for Unresectable Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

This is multicentric, single-arm, observational, investigator-drive study investigating the efficacy of liver transplantation after successful downstaging/disease control of unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma using chemotherapy +/- immunotherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Neoadjuvant Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in Combination With Perioperative Pembrolizumab Versus Upfront Surgery for Patients With Primary Resectable and Borderline Resectable Perihilar and Distal Cholangiocarcinoma

Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA) is a rare and aggressive cancer with poor prognosis. ECCA can be further subcategorised in perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA and dCCA). Surgical resection is the only potential cure, but only one-third of patients are eligible. Even among those deemed resectable, a significant portion (≈30%) experience disease progression before surgery, while another 30% are found unresectable during exploration. High recurrence rates and postoperative complications further limit survival, with 5-year overall survival ranging from 13% (R1 resection) to 40% (R0 resection). Given the long preoperative work-up period and lack of treatment during this phase, a neoadjuvant approach may improve outcomes by increasing R0 resections, reducing recurrence, and optimizing patient selection. This multicenter, randomized phase 2B/3 trial aims to assess whether neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin plus perioperative pembrolizumab improves event-free survival in patients with resectable and borderline resectable pCCA and dCCA.

Robotically Assisted Surgery For Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma: A Prospective Study

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) represents the most common biliary tract malignancy, and the second most common primary hepatic malignancy, accounting for 15% to 20% of primary liver tumours. Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) involves the biliary confluence with or without involvement of the right and left hepatic ducts. Complete resection with negative histologic margins is the only chance of cure and the most robust predictor of long-term survival for patients affected by any type of locally advanced CCA. However, the proximity of perihilar tumors to vital structures makes curative excision technically difficult. Minimally invasive approaches are progressively spreading in liver surgery units worldwide. Significant advantages of minimally invasive liver resections, if compared to open one, have been diffusely shown, such as shorter hospital stay and possibility of complex reconstructive procedures similar to those performed in open surgery. Robot-assisted liver surgery represents a natural consequence of such a minimally invasive evolution. This is a monocentric, single arm, observational, prospective study that aims at analyzing the outcomes of robotic major liver resection and biliary recontruction for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Among study outcomes, the primary outcome is evaluation of morbidity; secondary outcomes includes conversion rate, margin status, biliary fistula, liver failure, disease specific survival, overall Survival Data related to patient condition (laboratory tests, etc.), surgery performed, and post-surgical course will be collected. The protocol for this study has been developed in accordance with the European Union Good Clinical Practice guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki, and it has been approved by the Territorial Ethics Committee of the East-Central Veneto Area (CETAEV).