Combination therapy improves survival in unresectable upper biliary tract cancers

A retrospective study of 60 patients with unresectable upper biliary tract cancer revealed that gemcitabine and cisplatin plus S-1 (GCS) therapy, followed by conversion surgery, significantly increased median overall survival to 28 months compared to 12.4 months for those receiving only GCS. The response rate to therapy was 33.9%, with conversion surgery performed in 35% of patients. Predictors of successful surgery included post-chemotherapy CA19-9 decrease and RECIST response, while gallbladder cancer and ALBI grade 3 were negative predictors.