New treatment option for bile duct cancer

Immunotherapies for cancer: The body's own immune defence is specifically supported or activated to seek out and attack cancer cells. Copyright: medJUNGE - International study with participation of MHH Professor Arndt Vogel shows improved overall survival with immunotherapy New cases of bile duct cancer, also known as biliary tumours, are increasing worldwide. The chances of cure are considered poor. The standard therapy for advanced bile duct cancer has so far been based on chemotherapy with the therapeutic agents gemcitabine and cisplatin; treatment with the body's own immune defence system has been researched for years for this type of cancer. An international research team with the participation of Arndt Vogel from the Hannover Medical School (MHH) has now been able to prove in the KEYNOTE-966 study that the overall survival of patients is improved with the addition of the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab. The results were published in the journal The Lancet. "Our study shows a statistically clear improvement in overall survival and a manageable safety profile in patients with bile duct cancer," says Professor Dr Arndt Vogel from the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology and corresponding last author of the study.