This booklet explains why and how molecular testing is performed and the role it may play in guiding treatment decisions. Example questions you may wish to ask your treatment team about molecular testing are also included.
Plain language summary of Incyte’s cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) meeting at the 2022 European Society for Medical Oncology World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (ESMO-GI)
In this video, highlights from Incyte’s ESMO-GI 2022 meeting, titled ‘CCA: It’s time for personalised medicine’ are discussed with focus on the needs of a patient audience. In this discussion chaired by Helen Morement (AMMF – The Cholangiocarcinoma Charity, London, UK), Professor John Bridgewater (Clinical Professor, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK) and Professor Lorenza Rimassa (Associate Professor of Medical Oncology, Humanitas University and IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy) share their expert perspectives on CCA. Key topics include overcoming diagnostic challenges, optimising molecular profiling and discussing personalised medicine for patients with CCA.
Helen Morement
CEO and Founder of AMMF - The Cholangiocarcinoma Charity, London, UK
Professor Lorenza Rimassa
Associate Professor of Medical Oncology, Humanitas University and IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
Professor John Bridgewater
Clinical Professor, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
AMMF is a registered charity based in the UK,
working nationally and internationally,
dedicated solely to CCA. AMMF’s website
includes a wealth of information and resources
for patients and their carers
Biliary Tract Cancer: An ESMO Guide for Patients
This guide has been prepared to help
patients or caregivers better understand
biliary tract cancer and the treatments that
are available
Angiography
A type of X-ray/CT/MRI scan used to check
blood vessels
Best supportive care
This includes treatments to help with
symptoms and pain related to
cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). For example,
people with CCA may have blocked bile
ducts, leading to jaundice, pain or infections.
Draining the bile ducts using a thin flexible
tube (catheter) can help clear blockages and
is considered a form of best supportive care
Biopsy
An image-guided approach to collecting
tissue samples
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs circulate in your
bloodstream to slow or stop the growth of
rapidly dividing cancer cells. Chemotherapy
is not specific and will target both dividing
cancer cells and healthy cells. As cancer
cells divide faster than most normal cells,
they are more likely to be killed by the
chemotherapy
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA)
Cancer that forms in the bile ducts
CT (computerised tomography) scan
A process that uses X-rays taken from
many angles to create computerised, 3-dimensional images of the inside of the body
ERCP (endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopancreatography)
A process that uses a long, thin, flexible
telescopic camera (an endoscope) that is
gently passed through your mouth into your
stomach and the first part of the small
intestine (duodenum). Biopsies can be taken
at the same time
EUS (endoscopic ultrasound scan)
A process that also uses an endoscope
that is passed through to the duodenum; an
ultrasound probe attached to the tip of the
endoscope and creates detailed images of
organs and structures inside your body.
Biopsies can be taken at the same time
Gastroenterologist
A healthcare professional who treats
gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines)
and hepatological (liver, gallbladder, biliary
tract and pancreas) diseases
Histopathologist
A healthcare professional who performs
laboratory tests, examines samples of
tissues/cells, and supports other healthcare
professionals in the diagnosis and treatment
of medical conditions
Laparoscopy
A minor operation during which a small
cut is made (usually near the belly
button) to insert a long, thin tube with a
high-intensity light and a high-resolution
video camera at the front (a laparoscope),
which allows a doctor to see inside
your body
Molecular pathologist
A healthcare professional who performs
laboratory tests, examines the DNA, RNA
and/or protein within cells taken by
biopsy, and supports other healthcare
professionals in the diagnosis and
treatment of medical conditions
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan
A process that uses a magnetic field and
radio waves to create computerised,
3-dimensional images of the inside of the
body. An MRI scan might be used when a
doctor wants to see more accurate,
detailed images of the body
Nurse
A healthcare professional trained to
support the care and treatment
of medical conditions
Oncologist
A healthcare professional who diagnoses
and treats people with cancer
PET (positron emission tomography)
A process that uses a radioactive drug
(tracer) to help work out the activity of
certain body functions. A small amount of
the tracer is injected into blood vessels in
your arm or hand, which will then
accumulate in areas of your body that have
higher levels of metabolic or biochemical
activity. This can often pinpoint the location
of the cancer as cancer cells are more active
than normal cells
PTC (percutaneous transhepatic
cholangiography)
A process that uses ultrasound to allow a long,
thin, flexible needle to be inserted through
your skin and into the liver. Dye is
then injected through the needle, which shows up
on X-rays and allows the doctor to look at the
bile ducts inside your body. Biopsies can be
taken at the same time
Radiologist
A healthcare professional who uses images
to diagnose and treat medical conditions
and injuries
Radiation therapy
A type of cancer treatment that uses
high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation
to kill some cancer cells or stop them from
growing. It is usually a localised treatment
that targets just the area(s) where cancer cells
are found
Surgeon
A healthcare professional who performs operations
in planned and/or emergency situations
Surgery
Your healthcare team will first decide if the
cancer can be removed surgically. This is
known as resection. People who have this
surgery may also receive treatment before
the surgery, to shrink the tumour(s) as much
as possible, or after the surgery, to try to kill
any remaining cancer cells
Targeted therapy
A more specific type of drug treatment that
targets the genes and proteins that help
cancer cells to grow and survive. Your doctor
can use molecular profiling to learn more
about your CCA and assess whether targeted
therapy is an option for you
Ultrasound scan
A painless process where a handheld scanner is
placed onto the abdomen and produces sound
waves to create an image of structures (such as
organs and glands) inside the body; commonly
used during pregnancy
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