Rachna T. Shroff

PURPOSE: This living guideline provides recommendations for liquid biopsy and treatment of patients with advanced biliary tract cancer . METHODS: The American Society of Clinical Oncology convened an Expert Panel to conduct a systematic review of relevant studies and develop recommendations for liquid biopsy and systemic therapy for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer. RESULTS: Six studies provided estimates of concordance between liquid biopsy and tissue biopsy. Nine RCTs were included in the evidence base for first-line therapy. One phase III RCT and four phase II RCTs were included in the evidence for second-line chemotherapy. Eleven single studies or reviews supported biomarker-specific second-line therapy recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Testing with broad-based tissue DNA and RNA NGS testing to determine the presence of targetable biomarkers is recommended at the time of diagnosis at any stage. Liquid biopsy with plasma is generally recommended only when tissue biopsy is unavailable. As first-line therapy for patients with pMMR/MSS advanced BTC, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) plus chemotherapy is recommended. Options for patients with advanced BTC who are not candidates for ICIs are included in the guideline. Pembrolizumab monotherapy is an option for patients with dMMR/MSI-H advanced BTC. For patients with disease progression on first-line treatment and who have no identified biomarkers, FOLFOX with active symptom control, or active symptom control alone are recommended; options for patients who are ineligible for oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy are included in the guideline. Second-line therapy options are recommended for patients with dMMR/MSI-H, IDH1 mutations, FGFR2 fusions or rearrangements, BRAF V600E mutations, HER2 overexpression, RET, NTRK1/2/3, or NRG1 fusions. Additional information is available at https://ascopubs.org/guidelines/living-guidelines

Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2 (KMT2) family proteins methylate lysine 4 on the histone H3 tail at important regulatory regions in the genome and thereby impart crucial functions through modulating chromatin structures and DNA accessibility. We aimed to identify the molecular profile of KMT2-MT oesophageal cancer (EC) and associations with patient outcomes. In our study, KMT2 mutations were significantly associated with longer immunotherapy-related overall survival (OS) in the esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) (21.42 vs 13.42 months, HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.50–0.88, P = 0.004), but not in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). KMT2 mutations were significantly associated with microsatellite instability-high and higher tumor mutation burden in both EA and ESCC. KMT2 -MT EA showed significantly higher mutation rates in CIC (13% vs 1.1%), NF1 (12.5% vs 2.2%), FBXW7 (12% vs 3.4%), ATM (11.5% vs 2.6%) and BRCA1 (11.5% vs 1%, all q < 0.05), compared to KMT2 -wildtype (WT) tumors. Meanwhile, no significant mutational differences were observed between KMT2 -MT and WT ESCC. Fat digestion and absorption, cholesterol metabolism and the infiltration of activated B cells were significantly enriched in KMT2 -MT EA compared to KMT2 -WT EA, but these results were not observed in the ESCC. This is the largest study to investigate the distinct molecular landscapes in KMT2-MT EC, characterized by higher tumor mutational burden, an increased frequency of microsatellite instability-high, and gene mutations involved in DNA damage repair and epigenetic regulation.

Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, but advances in therapeutic treatments remain limited. Elraglusib (9-ING-41), an inhibitor of GSK-3β, exhibits a multimodal mechanism of action based on antitumor activity in preclinical models of cancer, including pancreatic. The efficacy and safety of elraglusib with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) were assessed in patients with previously untreated mPDAC. In an open-label, international, multicenter, phase 2 study, patients were randomized 2:1 to weekly elraglusib/GnP or GnP alone. Primary endpoints were median overall survival (OS) and 1-year survival rate. The prespecified modified intention-to-treat population included 155 patients on elraglusib/GnP and 78 on GnP. As of the data cutoff of 27 April 2025, elraglusib/GnP improved median OS by 2.9 months and decreased the risk of death by 38% versus GnP (median OS 10.1 months versus 7.2 months, respectively (hazard ratio 0.62; 95% confidence interval 0.46 to 0.84; P = 0.01)). The 1-year survival rates were 44.1% versus 22.3%, respectively. The safety profile of elraglusib/GnP was manageable. The most common grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with elraglusib/GnP versus GnP alone were neutropenia (52.3% versus 30.8%), anemia (25.2% versus 29.5%) and fatigue (16.8% versus 5.1%). Explorative correlative analyses demonstrated that baseline circulating immune-related factors (that is, CXCL2 and TRAIL ligands) were associated with improved survival in the elraglusib/GnP arm. Treatment was accompanied by increases in intratumoral cytotoxic immune cell populations. Together, these findings support the clinical activity of elraglusib/GnP as first-line treatment in mPDAC and provide a biological context for the observed survival benefit. Based on the results of this phase 2 trial, a phase 3 trial is being planned. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT03678883

Supplemental methods, results, tables, and figures

Oncogenic KRAS is amongst the key genetic drivers for initiation and maintenance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here, we show that engineered exosomes with Kras^G12D specific siRNA (iExoKras^G12D) reveal a biodistribution in pancreas with negligible toxicity in preclinical studies in mice and Rhesus macaques. Clinical testing of iExoKras^G12D in the iEXPLORE (iExoKras^G12D in Pancreatic Cancer) Phase I study employed a non-randomized single-arm classical 3 + 3 dose escalation design (Phase Ia), followed by an accelerated titration design (Phase Ib) (NCT03608631). The primary outcomes included safety, tolerability and target engagement, and the secondary outcomes aimed to assess disease control. Patients with advanced metastatic disease were enrolled after failure of multiple lines of therapy. iExoKras^G12D therapy was well-tolerated: the primary outcomes were met with iExoKras^G12D showing no dose-limiting toxicity. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached even at the highest dose. In some cases, iExoKras^G12D therapy was associated with stable disease response (secondary outcome). Downregulation of KRAS^G12D DNA and suppression of phospho-Erk was documented together with an increase in intratumoral CD8⁺ T cells following treatment. The CD8⁺ T cell recruitment priming by iExoKras^G12D informed on potential efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy and lead to validation testing in preclinical PDAC models. Combination therapy of iExoKras^G12D and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, but not anti-PD1, revealed robust pre-clinical anti-tumor efficacy via FAS mediated CD8⁺ T cell anti-tumor activity. This first-in-human, precision medicine clinical trial and supporting preclinical functional studies offer new insights into priming of immunotherapy by oncogenic Kras inhibitor for future opportunistic combination therapy for PDAC patients.

Purpose: Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1/2–isoform inhibitors have clinical efficacy in IDH1/IDH2-mutated neoplasms. However, primary resistance and secondary resistance limit their therapeutic potential. LY3410738, an oral, brain-penetrant, dual IDH1/IDH2-mutated isoform-selective inhibitor, was designed to overcome resistance. Patients and Methods: This global, multicenter, open-label, phase I study of patients with IDH-mutant solid tumors evaluated LY3410738 as monotherapy (dose escalation) for advanced solid tumors in combination with cisplatin–gemcitabine (CISGEM) for newly diagnosed cholangiocarcinoma or with durvalumab for relapsed/refractory cholangiocarcinoma (dose expansion; NCT04521686). Primary objectives were the maximum tolerated dose, recommended phase II dose, and preliminary antitumor activity. Safety, pharmacokinetics, inhibition of D-2-hydroxyglutarate, and ctDNA were assessed. Results: Overall, 119 patients received LY3410738 alone (N = 94) or in combination with CISGEM (N = 19) or durvalumab (N = 6). No dose-limiting toxicities were observed; the maximum tolerated dose was not determined. Common adverse events included nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. Overall response rates of 5.2% and 11.1% and disease control rates of 56.9% and 63.0% were observed for patients with relapsed/refractory IDH1- or IDH2-mutant cholangiocarcinoma or IDH1-mutant glioma, respectively. D-2-hydroxyglutarate normalization was rapid and durable. In dose-expansion cohorts, combination treatments were tolerable, with one dose-limiting toxicity in the durvalumab cohort. LY3410738 plus CISGEM demonstrated a response rate of 42.1%, a median duration of response of 8.1 months, and a median progression-free survival of 10.2 months for patients with newly diagnosed IDH-mutant cholangiocarcinoma. Conclusions: LY3410738 demonstrated largely cytostatic antitumor activity in IDH1- or IDH2-mutated cholangiocarcinoma and IDH1-mutated gliomas. LY3410738 plus CISGEM exhibited favorable antitumor activity in patients with treatment-naïve IDH-mutated cholangiocarcinoma, warranting further exploration as a treatment strategy.

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a histologically and molecularly diverse group of malignancies arising from the gallbladder and the ductal epithelium of the biliary tree. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is the second most common primary liver malignancy in the United States. Surgical resection with negative margins is the only recognized curative treatment option for iCCA; however, most patients will present with advanced or unresectable disease. The clinical presentation is largely non-specific, with the characteristic symptoms of biliary malignancies being less frequent than extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Clinical management in iCCA is heavily influenced by the molecular profile of individual tumors. Hence, pathologists must exercise caution to prevent tissue exhaustion during the diagnostic workup of iCCA and ensure the availability of tissue samples for molecular testing. Establishing standardized procedures for obtaining adequate tissue and using molecular testing is vital. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) offers a potential alternative to tissue-based analysis, especially in cases with insufficient tissue samples. Drugs targeting alterations in NTRK, IDH1, BRAF, FGFR2, and HER2 are commonly utilized. Targeting the MDM2–p53 pathway represents an avenue for future investigations in advanced BTCs. Liver transplantation and locoregional therapies are treatment modalities that may represent curative intent treatments for patients with unresectable disease, and larger explorations are warranted. Akin to HCC, a multidisciplinary team–based approach is essential for patients with BTCs. Through this narrative review of literature, we provide an overview of the current management of iCCA with perspectives regarding future directions in the clinical management of iCCA. We also present patient perspectives regarding the importance of patient advocacy and access to advances in clinical research for patients with BTCs.