Survival after surgical resection of distal cholangiocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic factors.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the available evidence on the survival of distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC) patients following resection with curative intent and analyze the prognostic factors.

METHODS

Relevant studies published between January 2000 and January 2015 were identified by searching PubMed and Embase and reviewed systematically. Summary relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated using random-effects models.

RESULTS

A total of 39 observational studies involving 3258 patients were included in the review. R0 resection was achieved in 84% (range, 46-100%) of patients. The median 5-year overall survival rate after resection was 37% (range, 13-54%), with corresponding rate of 44% (range, 27-63%) in R0 resection. The meta-analysis for 25 studies showed that R1 resection (RR 2.36, 95% CI 1.89-2.93), lymph node metastasis (RR 2.35, 95% CI 1.89-2.93), perineural invasion (RR 1.96, 95% CI 1.64-2.34), lymphatic invasion (RR 1.84, 95% CI 1.47-2.31), vascular invasion (RR 1.99, 95% CI 1.40-2.82), pancreatic invasion (RR 2.13, 95% CI 1.39-3.27), and pathological tumor stage ≥ T3 (RR 1.56, 95% CI 1.25-1.93) were associated with shorter survival.

CONCLUSION

In general, prognosis of DCC after resection is poor. R0 resection results in a substantially improved survival and represents one of the most important prognostic variables.