Development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in PSC (i.e. PSC/CCA) represents a major challenging issue, with a number of problems to tackle from both clinical and experimental perspectives. Among them, uncertainty in early diagnosis, limited human sample availability and lack of experimental models of PSC/CCA (i.e. in vitro and in vivo) have been identified as critical needs worth of investigation by specific proposals discussed in New Haven.
Current projects (June 2018)
- To define “CCA subtype”-specific radiology (MRI) parameters through radiologic/histo-morphology correlates and their clinical application for the early diagnosis of CCA/PSC (proposed by V. Cardinale, D. Alvaro, Rome).
- To develop a registry of PSC/CCA with sample collection (tissue, bile, blood, urine) and clinical data recording within the European Network for the Study of CCA (ENS-CCA), coordinated by J. Banales (San Sebastian).
- To define an animal model of PSC/CCA as tool to unravel pathogenetic mechanisms and eventually, develop novel treatment strategies (proposed by L. Fabris, V. Cardinale, J. Mertens, Padua, Rome, Zurich).
Proposal#1 and Proposal#3 will be developed in collaboration with WG on ‘Imaging Studies’, and with WG on ‘Animal & Cellular Models & Pathophysiology’, respectively.