Liver Transplants Save Lives When Rare Cancer Strikes

• Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) begins in the passage between the gallbladder and intestine.
• The standard treatment is surgical removal of the cancer.
• Liver transplant may be a treatment option in cases where bile duct cancer in the liver cannot be surgically removed.

Mayo Clinic pioneered care that is dramatically improving outcomes.

1) Chemotherapy and radiation therapy

• The chemotherapy drugs make the tumor more sensitive to radiation.
• Radiation kills cancer cells, but also damages healthy cells.

2) High-dose brachytherapy radiation

• Internal radiation, known as brachytherapy, uses small wires that are placed near the cancer and slowly release radiation.
• This kills off even more of the cancer, but leaves the liver unable to function.

3) Liver transplant

• After radiation, the patient waits for a donor liver.
• In some cases, a living donor can be identified, shortening the wait.

Dramatic improvement in 5-year survival rates.

15% Overall

• For all cases of bile duct cancer, 5-year survival rates are low without treatment.

28% with liver transplant only

• Transplant without the new protocol improved survival for some.
• New tumors developed in 51% of cases.

71% with new protocol

• People are carefully screened and selected – not all with this condition can get this treatment.
• For those who can, survival is comparable to all liver transplants.

Consider a second opinion.

• Bile duct cancer can be challenging to diagnose.
• Doctors who specialize in rare cancers may be able to help.
• There are only a few centers in the U.S. offering liver transplant for bile duct cancer.

Sources: MayoClinic.org; Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.gov; Cancer.net.