Benchmarking Outcomes after Ablative Radiotherapy for Molecularly Characterized Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

We have previously shown that ablative radiotherapy (A-RT) with a biologically effective dose (BED₁₀) ≥ 80.5 Gy for patients with unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is associated with longer survival. Despite recent large-scale sequencing efforts in ICC, outcomes following RT based on genetic alterations have not been described. We reviewed records of 156 consecutive patients treated with A-RT for unresectable ICC from 2008 to 2020. For 114 patients (73%), next-generation sequencing provided molecular profiles. The overall survival (OS), local control (LC), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariable Cox analyses were used to determine the associations with the outcomes. The median tumor size was 7.3 (range: 2.2-18.2) cm. The portal vein thrombus (PVT) was present in 10%. The RT median BED₁₀ was 98 Gy (range: 81-144 Gy). The median (95% confidence interval) follow-up was 58 (42-104) months from diagnosis and 39 (33-74) months from RT. The median OS was 32 (29-35) months after diagnosis and 20 (16-24) months after RT. The one-year OS, LC, and intrahepatic DMFS were 73% (65-80%), 81% (73-87%), and 34% (26-42%). The most common mutations were in <i>IDH1</i> (25%), <i>TP53</i> (22%), <i>ARID1A</i> (19%), and <i>FGFR2</i> (13%). Upon multivariable analysis, the factors associated with death included worse performance status, larger tumor, metastatic disease, higher CA 19-9, PVT, satellitosis, and <i>IDH1</i> and <i>PIK3CA</i> mutations. <i>TP53</i> mutation was associated with local failure. Further investigation into the prognostic value of individual mutations and combinations thereof is warranted.