Search
What are you looking for?
Start main content

Press Releases

Press Releases

https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/cuhk-leading-asia-s-battle-to-improve-bile-duct-cancer-survival-rates-by-developing-a-novel-combinational-strategy-in-clinical-trial
https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/cuhk-leading-asia-s-battle-to-improve-bile-duct-cancer-survival-rates-by-developing-a-novel-combinational-strategy-in-clinical-trial
CUHK leading Asia’s battle to improve bile duct cancer survival rates by developing a novel combinational strategy in clinical trial

CUHK leading Asia’s battle to improve bile duct cancer survival rates by developing a novel combinational strategy in clinical trial

A multicentre clinical trial led by The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s (CUHK) Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) with overseas medical institutions showed that the combination of selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT) and conventional chemotherapy is effective in treating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) that is not suitable for surgery.

 

The standard first-line treatment for inoperable ICC is chemotherapy, which is associated with a median overall survival of 11.7 months. With the use of SIRT before chemotherapy, this clinical trial found that the median overall survival of patients with inoperable ICC could be improved to 21.6 months among those undergoing both treatments. The results were published in the renowned journal Liver Cancer. 

 

Intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a growing health concern internationally, with increasing incidence

 

Biliary tract cancer is traditionally considered a less common cancer, accounting for only 3% of digestive tract cancers. However, the incidence of ICC, a subtype of biliary tract cancer arising from the bile duct in the liver, has been increasing over the past decade due to obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.

 

Over 80% of patients with ICC suffer from locally advanced or metastatic disease, rendering them unsuitable for surgery. These patients frequently present with symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain or weight loss. Researchers around the world are working hard discover better treatments for this group of patients.

 

Professor Stephen Chan

Professor Stephen Chan says that the global incidence of ICC has been increasing over the past decade. Clinical researchers at CUHK are working hard to look for better treatments for patients. 

A potential new option for patients with inoperable ICC

 

The clinical trial was designed and initiated by CU Medicine’s Department of Clinical Oncology, in collaboration with the Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, and with the subsequent participation of three more sites in Asia, namely the Chulabhorn hospital in Thailand, the National Cancer Centre Singapore, and the National University of Singapore’s Cancer Science Institute. 

 

31 patients were screened, of whom 24 were recruited for the trial. The participating patients underwent screening for treatment by SIRT with yttrium 90, a regional therapy for tumour in the liver, followed by standard chemotherapy.

 

CU Medicine’s Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology Professor Simon Yu Chun-ho, highlighted the role of regional therapy in ICC. “SIRT involves the trans-arterial injection of radioactive materials containing yttrium-90 into the liver tumour. Although its role has been proven in hepatocellular carcinoma, there is a lack of clinical trial data on the role of SIRT in ICC, especially in the context of a standard chemotherapy regimen,” he said.

 

 The results showed that the median overall survival of patients who underwent SIRT, regardless of chemotherapy, was 13.6 months; and that for the group of patients who underwent both SIRT and chemotherapy, it was 21.6 months. Among 16 patients of the trial group, 25% experienced shrinkage of tumour and 75% had the disease under control. The new treatment was generally safe, with fewer than 10% of patients developing moderate to severe side effects.  

Professor Simon Yu

Professor Simon Yu hopes that ICC patients will get a new option for more intensive treatment, after the research team collected data on the combined treatment strategy through the clinical trial.

 

“Conducting an investigator-initiated, multicentre clinical trial in a less common cancer is challenging but extremely meaningful,” said Professor Stephen Chan Lam, Ip’s Family Trust Professor of Clinical Oncology of the Department of Clinical Oncology at CU Medicine and the trial’s principal investigator.

 

“Generally, the pharmaceutical industry is less interested in exploring treatment for less common cancers. It is the responsibility of clinical researchers at CUHK to look for better treatments for patients. I am grateful for the efforts of the four centres in three different regions to address this unmet need of our patients. Our data will give a potential option for more intensive treatment in selected patients, where the main disease burden is in the liver,” Professor Chan added.

 

 

More Press Releases

CUHK Study Proves Ablative Chemoembolization Doubles the Progression-Free Survival for Liver Cancer Patients

CUHK Study Proves Ablative Chemoembolization Doubles the Progression-Free Survival for Liver Cancer Patients

Research
CUHK Research Team Develops an AI System for Detecting COVID-19 Infections in CT with a Privacy Preserving Multinational Validation Study

CUHK Research Team Develops an AI System for Detecting COVID-19 Infections in CT with a Privacy Preserving Multinational Validation Study

Research
CUHK Identifies Outcome Indicators for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients Receiving Prostatic Artery Embolisation

CUHK Identifies Outcome Indicators for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients Receiving Prostatic Artery Embolisation

Research
CUHK Proves Modified HIFU Treatment Effective for Treating Uterine Fibroids

CUHK Proves Modified HIFU Treatment Effective for Treating Uterine Fibroids

Research
CUHK Proves Prostate Artery Embolization Effective for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

CUHK Proves Prostate Artery Embolization Effective for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Research
CUHK’s New Prostatic Artery Embolization Shows 90% Success Rate in Relieving Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

CUHK’s New Prostatic Artery Embolization Shows 90% Success Rate in Relieving Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Clinical service
CUHK Reveals Effectiveness of TEA for Treating Liver Cancer with a 70% Chance of Completely Destroying Tumor

CUHK Reveals Effectiveness of TEA for Treating Liver Cancer with a 70% Chance of Completely Destroying Tumor

Research
Radiotherapy to Head and Neck Raises Risk for Stroke CUHK Proved Effectiveness of Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting

Radiotherapy to Head and Neck Raises Risk for Stroke CUHK Proved Effectiveness of Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting

Research
CUHK Succeeded in Animal Study and Clinical Case of Percutaneous Nanoknife New Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment

CUHK Succeeded in Animal Study and Clinical Case of Percutaneous Nanoknife New Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment

Research
CUHK Proves a Non-invasive Technology Can Successfully Cure Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation

CUHK Proves a Non-invasive Technology Can Successfully Cure Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation

Clinical service
Good News for Asian Patients First Local Clinical Study Shows High Success Rate and Effectiveness of Stenting for Intracranial Stenosis in Preventing Ischaemic Stroke

Good News for Asian Patients First Local Clinical Study Shows High Success Rate and Effectiveness of Stenting for Intracranial Stenosis in Preventing Ischaemic Stroke

Research
CUHK Proves the Potent Efficacy of Stenting for Carotid Artery Narrowing and Cardiac Contractility Modulation for Heart Failure

CUHK Proves the Potent Efficacy of Stenting for Carotid Artery Narrowing and Cardiac Contractility Modulation for Heart Failure

Research
CU Medicine developed an innovative mRNA drug for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

CU Medicine developed an innovative mRNA drug for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Research
CU Medicine study reveals increasing cognitive activity participation strengthens brain network

CU Medicine study reveals increasing cognitive activity participation strengthens brain network

Research
CU Medicine combats resistance to immunotherapy in liver cancer

CU Medicine combats resistance to immunotherapy in liver cancer

Research
CUHK develops novel retrievable nanorobots for targeted and enhanced thrombolysis potentially saving stroke patients from brain damage

CUHK develops novel retrievable nanorobots for targeted and enhanced thrombolysis potentially saving stroke patients from brain damage

Research
International lung cancer study involving CU Medicine shows that a targeted therapy doubles the progression-free survival of advanced cancer patients, compared to standard treatment

International lung cancer study involving CU Medicine shows that a targeted therapy doubles the progression-free survival of advanced cancer patients, compared to standard treatment

Research
CU Medicine proves a new ultrasound-guided endoscopic procedure has higher success and shorter procedural time for treating malignant distal biliary obstruction

CU Medicine proves a new ultrasound-guided endoscopic procedure has higher success and shorter procedural time for treating malignant distal biliary obstruction

Research
CU Medicine uncovers the keys for liver cancer adaptation to immunotherapy Pioneering new combination therapy in a Phase II clinical trial

CU Medicine uncovers the keys for liver cancer adaptation to immunotherapy Pioneering new combination therapy in a Phase II clinical trial

Research
 CU Medicine uncovers the key for immune suppression in lung cancer Translating blood’s hidden gem “Neutrophil” into a new generation anti-cancer therapy

CU Medicine uncovers the key for immune suppression in lung cancer Translating blood’s hidden gem “Neutrophil” into a new generation anti-cancer therapy

Research
CUHK develops an interventional catheterisation-integrated swarming microrobotic platform for aneurysm embolisation treatment: a new non-invasive approach

CUHK develops an interventional catheterisation-integrated swarming microrobotic platform for aneurysm embolisation treatment: a new non-invasive approach

Research
CUHK develops an efficient approach to estimate the risk of heart disease in people living with HIV

CUHK develops an efficient approach to estimate the risk of heart disease in people living with HIV

Research
International lung cancer study involving CU Medicine reveals that combination of immune drugs and chemotherapy represents new treatment regime for metastatic NSCLC patients

International lung cancer study involving CU Medicine reveals that combination of immune drugs and chemotherapy represents new treatment regime for metastatic NSCLC patients

Research
Inaugural lecture from the Ip’s Family Trust Professor in Clinical Oncology: A Joyful Prescription by Professor Stephen Chan

Inaugural lecture from the Ip’s Family Trust Professor in Clinical Oncology: A Joyful Prescription by Professor Stephen Chan

Awards and honors
CUHK World First Shows AI-derived MRI Brain Indices   Aid Clinical Detection of Three Cognitive Disorders at Early Stage

CUHK World First Shows AI-derived MRI Brain Indices Aid Clinical Detection of Three Cognitive Disorders at Early Stage

Research
CU Medicine Study Proves Pocket-size Mobile Echocardiographic Screening Device Effective in Detecting Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

CU Medicine Study Proves Pocket-size Mobile Echocardiographic Screening Device Effective in Detecting Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

Research
Professor Tony Mok Recognised as a Giant of Cancer Care  for His Remarkable Contribution in Advancing Global Healthcare in Lung Cancer

Professor Tony Mok Recognised as a Giant of Cancer Care for His Remarkable Contribution in Advancing Global Healthcare in Lung Cancer

Awards and honors
CUHK in collaboration with West China School of Medicine co-Led World’s First-in-human Clinical Trial using CRISPR technology for lung cancer Confirmed gene-edited T-Cell Therapy is Safe and Feasible in Treatment of Advanced NSCLC

CUHK in collaboration with West China School of Medicine co-Led World’s First-in-human Clinical Trial using CRISPR technology for lung cancer Confirmed gene-edited T-Cell Therapy is Safe and Feasible in Treatment of Advanced NSCLC

Research
CUHK to Commence the Next-Generation Clinical Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Haematological Malignancy

CUHK to Commence the Next-Generation Clinical Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Haematological Malignancy

Research
CUHK Receives an International Cancer Care Team Award Nominated by Patients

CUHK Receives an International Cancer Care Team Award Nominated by Patients

Awards and honors
CUHK-led Global Study Sees Improvement in Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer

CUHK-led Global Study Sees Improvement in Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer

Research
A CUHK-led International Study Demonstrates Immune-checkpoint Inhibitor Is Effective in Patients with Advanced Nasopharyngeal Cancer

A CUHK-led International Study Demonstrates Immune-checkpoint Inhibitor Is Effective in Patients with Advanced Nasopharyngeal Cancer

Research
CUHK-led Research Confirms Novel Targeted Therapy Doubles the Effectiveness of Current Standard Treatment for ALK-Positive Lung Cancer

CUHK-led Research Confirms Novel Targeted Therapy Doubles the Effectiveness of Current Standard Treatment for ALK-Positive Lung Cancer

Research
CUHK Unravels the Whole Genome of Nasopharyngeal Cancer A Great Leap Forward in Personalized Medicine Development

CUHK Unravels the Whole Genome of Nasopharyngeal Cancer A Great Leap Forward in Personalized Medicine Development

Research
CUHK Sets up the Global First Research Registry on Early Onset Dementia in Chinese Population

CUHK Sets up the Global First Research Registry on Early Onset Dementia in Chinese Population

Research
CUHK Screening Reveals 1 in 3 Older Adults in Community Suffer Brain Small Vessel Disease, Early Prevention Recommended

CUHK Screening Reveals 1 in 3 Older Adults in Community Suffer Brain Small Vessel Disease, Early Prevention Recommended

Clinical service
CUHK and PWH Introduce Leading 3D Imaging System which Reduces Radiation Dosage by 90%

CUHK and PWH Introduce Leading 3D Imaging System which Reduces Radiation Dosage by 90%

Clinical service
CUHK Joint Research Sets a New Global Direction for Lung Cancer Treatment Molecular Targeted Therapy Proved more Effective in Treating Patients with ALK-Positive Lung Cancer

CUHK Joint Research Sets a New Global Direction for Lung Cancer Treatment Molecular Targeted Therapy Proved more Effective in Treating Patients with ALK-Positive Lung Cancer

Research
CUHK Establishes New Hybrid Cardiovascular Operating Theatre and Multidisciplinary Team Significantly Reducing Operation Time and Risk of Thoracic Aortic Surgery

CUHK Establishes New Hybrid Cardiovascular Operating Theatre and Multidisciplinary Team Significantly Reducing Operation Time and Risk of Thoracic Aortic Surgery

Clinical service
CUHK Discovers Innovative ‘Flow Diverters’ (Pipeline) as Effective Treatment for Cerebral Aneurysms in Asia’s First Clinical Study in Collaboration with Seven Medical Centres

CUHK Discovers Innovative ‘Flow Diverters’ (Pipeline) as Effective Treatment for Cerebral Aneurysms in Asia’s First Clinical Study in Collaboration with Seven Medical Centres

Research
CUHK Pioneers MRI Iron Assessment for Thalassemia Children in Southern China

CUHK Pioneers MRI Iron Assessment for Thalassemia Children in Southern China

Clinical service

Our Expert List

Many experts under the Faculty of Medicine are available for media interview.
Please click here for the expert list or contact us.