Locoregional recurrence after curative intent resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: implications for adjuvant radiotherapy

Backgrounds: As for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, the most frequent site of failure after curative intent resection is the liver. We identified the risk factors for locoregional recurrence after curative intent resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: Medical records of 115 patients treated with surgical resection alone for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from November 2000 to December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Locoregional failure was defined as recurrence within 20 mm from resection margin or regional lymph node. Overall survival and locoregional recurrence rates were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier methods, and the prognostic factors were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Median follow-up duration of surviving patients was 61 months (range 8–139). Sixty-six patients had recurrence, and 45 of 66 patients (68 %) had locoregional recurrence. The 5-year overall survival and locoregional control rates were 49.1 and 51.6 %, respectively. ≥T2b disease and R1 resection were associated with locoregional recurrence in multivariate analysis. Patients were divided into two groups whether these risk factors exist or not. The 5-year locoregional control rates of low (no risk factor n = 64) and high (1 or 2 risk factors n = 51) risk groups were 62.5 and 34.7 %, respectively (P = 0.001). Conclusions: After curative intent resection, locoregional control and survival of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were far from satisfactory. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential benefit of adjuvant locoregional treatment such as radiotherapy for patients with high-risk factors (≥T2b disease or R1 resection).