Development and challenges in the treatment of advanced gallbladder cancer (Review).

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly lethal disease and the most common cancer of the biliary tract. Numerous patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, limiting surgical options and necessitating local or systemic treatment. Despite advancements in cancer treatment, 5-year survival rates remain low. Various therapeutic methods are available for the treatment of advanced GBC, including local therapy, chemoradiotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Although these treatments offer hope and broader prospects for patients, challenges persist. Through a systematic review of the literature from PubMed and Web of Science over the past decade, a summary and analysis of treatment trends, existing challenges and the latest research developments in advanced GBC were provided.