Cholangiocarcinoma treatment with radiofrequency ablation or photodynamic therapy (CARP)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Albrecht Hoffmeister
• Subject Area: Gastroenterology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434336116

Klatskin tumours are a form of bile duct cancer. They are generally not diagnosed until quite late and a curative operation is rarely a possibility. Their anatomic location usually results in bile duct obstruction and the aim of therapy is thus to keep the ducts open. This is accomplished through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) by implanting stents. Stent therapy combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT) extends life expectancy. PDT requires an injection of photosensitizer that is absorbed primarily by the cancer cells. Light of a particular wavelength is then applied with ERCP to kill the cancer cells. Drawbacks include not only high costs and poor availability, but foremost that patients have to avoid direct sunlight for a period of weeks. Radio frequency ablation (RFA) together with stent implantation constitutes an alternative by which the cancer cells are killed through heat applied during ERCP. The RFA technology is more widely available and easier to deploy. However, it has not been studied extensively. No randomized trials exist comparing the two methods. The trial described in the current application will compare survival in patients with Klatskin tumours depending on whether they receive PDT or RFA. Moreover, data will be collected on side-effects and quality of life.

• DFG Programme: Clinical Trials