Background/aims: The appropriate selection of an anti-cancer treatment after biliary stenting for bile duct cancer and the effects of new anti-cancer treatments are unclear. To determine the clinical efficacy of metallic biliary stents combined with different anticancer treatments in the management of bile duct cancer.
Methodology: We compared 49 patients with bile duct cancer who underwent biliary stenting plus anticancer treatment with 60 patients who underwent stenting alone (controls) in our hospital, between December 1998 and December 2012.
Results: In the combined-treatment group, 23 patients underwent three-dimensional radiation therapy, 21 underwent chemotherapy, and 5 underwent both three-dimensional radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The survival rate (chi2 = 41.563, P = 0.000) and duration of stent patency (chi2 = 50.268, P = 0.000) were significantly greater in the combined-treatment group than the control group. Adverse reactions were observed .The patients in the combined-treatment group developed nausea, vomiting and leukopenia, which were cured with symptomatic treatment. No biliary stent-related complications occurred in either group.
Conclusions: Metallic biliary stent insertion combined with different anti-cancer treatments can increase survival and stent patency rates in bile duct cancer patients. This combination treatment was safe and effective.