Stent placement combined with intraluminal radiofrequency ablation and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced biliary tract cancers with biliary obstruction: a multicentre, retrospective, controlled study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of stent placement combined with intraluminal radiofrequency ablation (intra-RFA) and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) for patients with advanced biliary tract cancers (Ad-BTCs) and biliary obstruction (BO). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data for patients with Ad-BTCs and BO who underwent stent placement with or without intra-RFA and HAIC in three centres between November 2013 and November 2018. The stent patency time (SPT), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were analysed. RESULTS: Of the 135 enrolled patients, 64 underwent stent placement combined with intra-RFA and HAIC, while 71 underwent only stent placement. The median SPT was significantly longer in the combination group (8.2 months, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.1–9.3) than in the control group (4.3 months, 95% CI: 3.6–5.0; p < 0.001). A similar result was observed for OS (combination: 13.2 months, 95% CI: 11.1–16.5; control: 8.5 months, 95% CI: 7.6–9.6; p < 0.001). The incidence of AEs related to biliary tract operation was not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The most common AE and serious AE related to HAIC were alanine aminotransferase elevation (24/64; 37.5%) and thrombocytopenia (8/64; 12.5%), respectively. All AEs were tolerable, and there was no death from AEs. CONCLUSIONS: Stent placement combined with intra-RFA and HAIC may be a safe, potential treatment strategy for patients with Ad-BTCs and BO. KEY POINTS: • Advanced biliary cancers (Ad-BTCs) with biliary obstruction (BO) can rapidly result in liver failure and cachexia with an extremely poor prognosis. • Stent placement combined with intraluminal radiofrequency ablation and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy may be safe and effective for patients with Ad-BTCs and BO. • The long-term efficacy and safety of the combined treatment is promising.