New chemo combo shows promise for deadly bile duct cancer

NCT ID NCT05024513

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 trial tested whether adding chemotherapy directly into the liver artery (hepatic arterial infusion) to standard bile duct drainage could help people with advanced perihilar cholangiocarcinoma live longer. The study enrolled 127 adults with inoperable cancer. One group received drainage plus the chemo drugs oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil, while the other group received drainage plus supportive care only. The main goal was to see if the chemo combination improved overall survival.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil (chemotherapy drugs given directly into the liver artery)

What this could lead to

If this works, it could offer a new treatment option that extends survival for people with advanced bile duct cancer that cannot be removed by surgery.

What could go wrong

This is a phase 2 trial with 127 participants, so results are still preliminary. The chemotherapy may cause side effects like nausea, low blood counts, or liver problems, and the survival benefit may not be large enough to change standard care.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

hilar cholangiocarcinoma perihilar intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Department of Interventional Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education),Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute

    Beijing, China