Treatment Options for Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer

Localized Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer
Unresectable, Recurrent, or Metastatic Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Treatment of localized extrahepatic bile duct cancer may include the following:

• Stent placement or biliary bypass to relieve blockage of the bile duct may be done before surgery to relieve jaundice.
• Surgery, with or without external-beam radiation therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with localized extrahepatic bile duct cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Treatment of unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic extrahepatic bile duct cancer is usually within a clinical trial. Treatment may include the following:

• Stent placement or biliary bypass with or without internal or external radiation therapy, as palliative treatment to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• Chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of new ways to give palliative radiation therapy, such as combining it with hyperthermia therapy, radiosensitizers, or chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of new drugs and drug combinations.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with unresectable extrahepatic bile duct cancer, recurrent extrahepatic bile duct cancer and metastatic extrahepatic bile duct cancer. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.