Mapping the landscape of biliary tract cancer in Europe: challenges and controversies

Lorenza Rimassa; Shahid Khan; Bas Groot Koerkamp; Stephanie Roessler; Jesper B. Andersen; Chiara Raggi; Ana Lleo; Jean Charles Nault; Julien Calderaro; Chiara Gabbi; Jakob N. Kather; Jesus M. Banales; Irene Bargellini; Helen Morement; Marcin Krawczyk; Paraskevi A. Farazi; Guido Carpino; Matias A. Avila; Anna Saborowski; Vincenzo Cardinale; Chiara Braconi; Rocio I.R. Macias

doi:10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101171

Mapping the landscape of biliary tract cancer in Europe: challenges and controversies

Lorenza Rimassa^*, Shahid Khan, Bas Groot Koerkamp, Stephanie Roessler, Jesper B. Andersen, Chiara Raggi, Ana Lleo, Jean Charles Nault, Julien Calderaro, Chiara Gabbi, Jakob N. Kather, Jesus M. Banales, Irene Bargellini, Helen Morement, Marcin Krawczyk, Paraskevi A. Farazi, Guido Carpino, Matias A. Avila, Anna Saborowski, Vincenzo CardinaleChiara Braconi, Rocio I.R. Macias^*

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Andersen Group

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Review › peer review

1 Citationer (Scopus)

4 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is becoming more common worldwide, with geographic differences in incidence and risk factors. In Europe, BTC may be associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis, lithiasis, and liver cirrhosis, but is more frequently observed as a sporadic disease. BTC increasingly affects patients under 60 years, resulting in a significant social and economic burden. Early diagnosis remains challenging due to vague symptoms in 50% of patients with BTC, and lack of specific biomarkers, resulting in late presentation and poor prognosis. The identification of patients at increased risk and reliable biomarkers require collaborative efforts to make faster progress. This Series paper highlights the disparities in access to diagnostic tools and multidisciplinary care in Europe, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions, while identifying priority areas for improvement. Addressing these inequities requires harmonised guidelines, accelerated pathways to curative treatments, and improved awareness among healthcare professionals and the public. Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are crucial for the diagnosis of BTC and for improving patient outcomes, yet inconsistencies exist in their implementation not only between different countries, but also between different centres within a country. Collaboration and standardisation of diagnostic and treatment protocols across Europe are essential to effectively address the management of patients with BTC.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	101171
Tidsskrift	The Lancet Regional Health - Europe
Vol/bind	50
Antal sider	15
ISSN	2666-7762
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101171
Status	Udgivet - 2025

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
This article is based upon work from the European Network for the Study of Cholangiocarcinoma and the COST Action CA22125 Precision medicine in biliary tract cancer (Precision-BTC-Network) supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology: www.cost.eu). The authors would like to thank the physicians who participated in the survey for their valuable contribution: Jorge Adeva, Darko Babic, Irene Bargellini, Chiara Braconi, Mohamed Bouattour, John Bridgewater, Andrea Casadei Gardini, Luka Cavka, Melanie Deutsch, Vasile Drug, Julien Edeline, Luca Fabris, Matteo Fassan, Trine Folseraas, Lorenzo Fornaro, Luis M. Gonzalez, Bas Groot Koerkamp, Dan Hogdall, Nigel Jamieson, Tim Kendall, Shahid Khan, Bledar Kraja, Fatjojna Kraja, Lukasz Krupa, Angela Lamarca, Frank Lammert, Ana Landa-Magdalena, Ana Lleo, Maeve Lowery, Elene Mariamidze, Joana Marinho, Mairead McNamara, Maria Mifsud, Robert Montal, Jean-Charles Nault, Nora Nevermann, Monica Niger, Nikolaos Papadopoulus, Stephen Pereira, John Primrose, Lorenza Rimassa, Stephanie Roessler, Anna Saborowski, Massimiliano Salati, Bruno Sangro, Anu Ustav, Caterina Vivaldi, Arndt Vogel. This paper did not receive any external funding.

Funding Information:
JMB declares consulting/advisory role from Albireo, Ipsen, Cymabay, Ikan Biotech, OWL-Rubi\u00F3 Metabolomic, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, and Servier; honoraria/lectures from Incyte, AstraZeneca, Intercept, Eisai, and Advanz), and research funding from Albireo, Incyte and Cymabay.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s)

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101171Licens: CC BY

FulltextForlagets udgivne version, 1,66 MBLicens: CC BY

Citationsformater

Rimassa, L., Khan, S., Groot Koerkamp, B., Roessler, S., Andersen, J. B., Raggi, C., Lleo, A., Nault, J. C., Calderaro, J., Gabbi, C., Kather, J. N., Banales, J. M., Bargellini, I., Morement, H., Krawczyk, M., Farazi, P. A., Carpino, G., Avila, M. A., Saborowski, A., ... Macias, R. I. R. (2025). Mapping the landscape of biliary tract cancer in Europe: challenges and controversies. The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 50, Artikel 101171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101171

Rimassa, L, Khan, S, Groot Koerkamp, B, Roessler, S, Andersen, JB, Raggi, C, Lleo, A, Nault, JC, Calderaro, J, Gabbi, C, Kather, JN, Banales, JM, Bargellini, I, Morement, H, Krawczyk, M, Farazi, PA, Carpino, G, Avila, MA, Saborowski, A, Cardinale, V, Braconi, C & Macias, RIR 2025, 'Mapping the landscape of biliary tract cancer in Europe: challenges and controversies', The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, bind 50, 101171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101171

@article{73640467f8b6465481c0a7534749bb2a,

title = "Mapping the landscape of biliary tract cancer in Europe: challenges and controversies",

abstract = "Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is becoming more common worldwide, with geographic differences in incidence and risk factors. In Europe, BTC may be associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis, lithiasis, and liver cirrhosis, but is more frequently observed as a sporadic disease. BTC increasingly affects patients under 60 years, resulting in a significant social and economic burden. Early diagnosis remains challenging due to vague symptoms in 50% of patients with BTC, and lack of specific biomarkers, resulting in late presentation and poor prognosis. The identification of patients at increased risk and reliable biomarkers require collaborative efforts to make faster progress. This Series paper highlights the disparities in access to diagnostic tools and multidisciplinary care in Europe, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions, while identifying priority areas for improvement. Addressing these inequities requires harmonised guidelines, accelerated pathways to curative treatments, and improved awareness among healthcare professionals and the public. Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are crucial for the diagnosis of BTC and for improving patient outcomes, yet inconsistencies exist in their implementation not only between different countries, but also between different centres within a country. Collaboration and standardisation of diagnostic and treatment protocols across Europe are essential to effectively address the management of patients with BTC.",

keywords = "Access to diagnosis, Biliary tract cancer, Biomarkers, Cholangiocarcinoma, Epidemiology, Europe, Gallbladder carcinoma",

author = "Lorenza Rimassa and Shahid Khan and {Groot Koerkamp}, Bas and Stephanie Roessler and Andersen, {Jesper B.} and Chiara Raggi and Ana Lleo and Nault, {Jean Charles} and Julien Calderaro and Chiara Gabbi and Kather, {Jakob N.} and Banales, {Jesus M.} and Irene Bargellini and Helen Morement and Marcin Krawczyk and Farazi, {Paraskevi A.} and Guido Carpino and Avila, {Matias A.} and Anna Saborowski and Vincenzo Cardinale and Chiara Braconi and Macias, {Rocio I.R.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Author(s)",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101171",

language = "English",

volume = "50",

journal = "The Lancet Regional Health - Europe",

issn = "2666-7762",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mapping the landscape of biliary tract cancer in Europe

T2 - challenges and controversies

AU - Rimassa, Lorenza

AU - Khan, Shahid

AU - Groot Koerkamp, Bas

AU - Roessler, Stephanie

AU - Andersen, Jesper B.

AU - Raggi, Chiara

AU - Lleo, Ana

AU - Nault, Jean Charles

AU - Calderaro, Julien

AU - Gabbi, Chiara

AU - Kather, Jakob N.

AU - Banales, Jesus M.

AU - Bargellini, Irene

AU - Morement, Helen

AU - Krawczyk, Marcin

AU - Farazi, Paraskevi A.

AU - Carpino, Guido

AU - Avila, Matias A.

AU - Saborowski, Anna

AU - Cardinale, Vincenzo

AU - Braconi, Chiara

AU - Macias, Rocio I.R.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is becoming more common worldwide, with geographic differences in incidence and risk factors. In Europe, BTC may be associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis, lithiasis, and liver cirrhosis, but is more frequently observed as a sporadic disease. BTC increasingly affects patients under 60 years, resulting in a significant social and economic burden. Early diagnosis remains challenging due to vague symptoms in 50% of patients with BTC, and lack of specific biomarkers, resulting in late presentation and poor prognosis. The identification of patients at increased risk and reliable biomarkers require collaborative efforts to make faster progress. This Series paper highlights the disparities in access to diagnostic tools and multidisciplinary care in Europe, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions, while identifying priority areas for improvement. Addressing these inequities requires harmonised guidelines, accelerated pathways to curative treatments, and improved awareness among healthcare professionals and the public. Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are crucial for the diagnosis of BTC and for improving patient outcomes, yet inconsistencies exist in their implementation not only between different countries, but also between different centres within a country. Collaboration and standardisation of diagnostic and treatment protocols across Europe are essential to effectively address the management of patients with BTC.

AB - Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is becoming more common worldwide, with geographic differences in incidence and risk factors. In Europe, BTC may be associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis, lithiasis, and liver cirrhosis, but is more frequently observed as a sporadic disease. BTC increasingly affects patients under 60 years, resulting in a significant social and economic burden. Early diagnosis remains challenging due to vague symptoms in 50% of patients with BTC, and lack of specific biomarkers, resulting in late presentation and poor prognosis. The identification of patients at increased risk and reliable biomarkers require collaborative efforts to make faster progress. This Series paper highlights the disparities in access to diagnostic tools and multidisciplinary care in Europe, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions, while identifying priority areas for improvement. Addressing these inequities requires harmonised guidelines, accelerated pathways to curative treatments, and improved awareness among healthcare professionals and the public. Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are crucial for the diagnosis of BTC and for improving patient outcomes, yet inconsistencies exist in their implementation not only between different countries, but also between different centres within a country. Collaboration and standardisation of diagnostic and treatment protocols across Europe are essential to effectively address the management of patients with BTC.

KW - Access to diagnosis

KW - Biliary tract cancer

KW - Biomarkers

KW - Cholangiocarcinoma

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Europe

KW - Gallbladder carcinoma

U2 - 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101171

DO - 10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101171

M3 - Review

C2 - 40093398

AN - SCOPUS:85218869907

SN - 2666-7762

VL - 50

JO - The Lancet Regional Health - Europe

JF - The Lancet Regional Health - Europe

M1 - 101171

ER -