Overview of Cholangiocarcinoma
- Cholangiocarcinoma (ko-LAN'-jee-o-car-sin-O'-ma)—often abbreviated as CCA—is cancer that forms in the bile ducts. For this reason, it is also known as bile duct cancer
- Most people with CCA do not have symptoms until the disease reaches an advanced stage. For this reason, it is difficult for doctors to diagnose the disease early
- CCA appears mostly in people over 60 years of age, and it occurs slightly more often in men than women
- Having certain gastrointestinal, bowel, or liver diseases, or obesity—as well as exposure to certain chemicals—may increase the risk for CCA
CCA is a rare type of cancer, accounting for only 3% of all gastrointestinal cancers, occurring in about 2 to 3 out of every 100,000 people in the United States each year.
How CCA forms in your bile ducts
Bile ducts (A) are the thin tubes that connect your liver (B), gallbladder (C), and small intestine (D). Their job is to carry the digestive fluid known as bile, which is made in your liver and helps break down fats.
In most cases, CCA starts in cells lining the bile ducts. Your cells’ genes, which are instructions for growth and repair, change abnormally. This causes the cells to grow and divide without stopping.
These cancer cells may form solid growths called tumors. Over time, some cancer cells can break off from the tumor and spread to other parts of the body. This is called metastatic cancer.
There are different types of CCA
CCA is classified into different types based on where it occurs:
Intrahepatic means the cancer starts in the bile ducts inside your liver.
Extrahepatic means the cancer starts in the bile ducts outside your liver, nearer to the intestine.
The location of CCA may affect how it is managed.
The Benefits of Biomarker Testing in CCA
Biomarker testing may help identify abnormal genes or gene defects that are specific to your tumor. This information can help your healthcare team tailor your CCA care approach to your unique profile.
Find Out More About Biomarker Testing