Umbrella review of adjuvant photodynamic therapy for cholangiocarcinoma palliative treatment

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare but highly fatal malignancy; numerous studies have demonstrated promising outcomes and survival rates associated with adjuvant photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the palliative treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the existing meta-analyses on PDT for cholangiocarcinoma, assessing evidence quality and strength while performing updated meta-analyses to refine survival outcomes.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched up to September 18, 2024, to identify meta-analyses and clinical studies on PDT in patients with cholangiocarcinoma. The random-effects model was employed to re-synthesize existing meta-analyses, with a comprehensive evaluation of methodological quality. Updated meta-analyses of survival data were conducted, including subgroup analyses stratified by cholangiocarcinoma type and intervention modality.

Results: A total of 5 meta-analyses and 21 clinical studies were included. The findings indicated that combining PDT with stenting or chemotherapy can significantly improve overall survival in patients with cholangiocarcinoma and reduce mortality rate, without increasing the risk of adverse events (AEs) such as cholangitis or abscess formation. For extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, adding PDT to stenting demonstrated a notable improvement in the 2-year survival rate. Meanwhile, for hilar cholangiocarcinoma, the addition of chemotherapy to PDT showed a more pronounced enhancement in the 1-year survival rate.

Conclusion: Current evidence indicates that PDT combined with stenting or chemotherapy in the palliative treatment of cholangiocarcinoma decreases overall mortality and enhances OS without increasing the incidence of AEs. Adding PDT to stenting or chemotherapy can be more beneficial for long-term efficacy.