Are FGFR and IDH1-2 alterations a positive prognostic factor in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma? An unresolved issue

Giovanni Brandi; Chiara Deiana; Linda Galvani; Andrea Palloni; Angela Dalia Ricci; Alessandro Rizzo; Simona Tavolari

doi:10.3389/fonc.2023.1137510

Are FGFR and IDH1-2 alterations a positive prognostic factor in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma? An unresolved issue

Front Oncol. 2023 Apr 24:13:1137510. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1137510. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Giovanni Brandi^{1

2}, Chiara Deiana^{1

2}, Linda Galvani^{1

2}, Andrea Palloni¹, Angela Dalia Ricci³, Alessandro Rizzo⁴, Simona Tavolari^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
² Department of Medicine and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
³ Medical Oncology Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology, "Saverio de Bellis" Research Hospital, Bari, Italy.
⁴ IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II" of Bari, Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Oncologia Medica per la Presa in Carico Globale del Paziente Oncologico "Don Tonino Bello", Bari, Italy.

Abstract

Despite representing some of the most common and investigated molecular changes in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), the prognostic role of FGFR and IDH1/2 alterations still remains an open question. In this review we provide a critical analysis of available literature data regarding this topic, underlining the strengths and pitfalls of each study reported. Despite the overall poor quality of current available studies, a general trend toward a better overall survival for FGFR2 rearrangements and, possibly, for FGFR2-3 alterations can be inferred. On the other hand, the positive prognostic role of IDH1/2 mutation seems much more uncertain. In this scenario, better designed clinical trials in these subsets of iCCA patients are needed in order to get definitive conclusions on this issue.

Keywords: FGFR; IDH; cholangiocarcinoma; molecular alteration; prognosis.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

The work reported in this publication was funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, RC-2022-2773354, and it was supported by “Fondazione Donato-Venturi” to GB.