The initiative, which involved several professionals from IDIBAPS, within the framework of the Clínic Barcelona Comprehensive Cancer Centre (4CB), was promoted by the European Network for the Study of Cholangiocarcinoma (ENS-CCA), an internationally recognized multidisciplinary and collaborative network in the field of biliary tract cancers.
The consensus statement offers an integrated and up-to-date view of multiple aspects of cholangiocarcinoma. It presents a comprehensive review of the epidemiology and recent incidence trends, which show an overall increase attributed to both improved detection and the rise in certain risk factors. It also summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding clinical presentation and available diagnostic tools. Furthermore, it reviews the main advances in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that characterize cholangiocarcinoma, including the most relevant genetic alterations and the role of the tumor microenvironment, a field that has experienced remarkable expansion in recent years.
The document also includes the most significant advances in the therapeutic field. The recommendations on surgical treatments, as well as the use of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies against specific molecular targets, have been updated.
The publication of this consensus is the result of an extensive collaborative process that brought together 147 experts from 35 countries. This process identified the field's priority needs and defined the scientific and clinical challenges that will shape the coming years.
The following individuals participated from Clínic-IDIBAPS through the 4CB: Andrés Cardenas (Steatohepatitis and Liver Transplantation), Alejandro Forner (Liver Oncology, BCLC), Silvia Affò (Heterogeneity and Plasticity of the Tumor Microenvironment, TMHet), Teresa Macarulla (Translational Oncology of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer), and Tian Tian, currently Head of the Translational Team at the Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Unit of VHIO, who will soon join IDIBAPS to co-lead the Translational Oncology Group in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer.
Reference Article
Banales, J.M., Rodrigues, P.M., Affò, S. et al. Cholangiocarcinoma 2026: status quo, unmet needs and priorities. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 23, 65–96 (2026). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41575-025-01153-w#citeas
