Epidemiology and genomic features of biliary tract cancer and its unique features in Korea

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy that includes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer (GBC). While BTC has a low global incidence, its regional variations are notable. Among nations, Korea has the second-hig...

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Main Authors: Seonjeong Woo, Youngun Kim, Sohyun Hwang, Hong Jae Chon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Liver Cancer Association 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Liver Cancer
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Online Access:http://e-jlc.org/upload/pdf/jlc-2025-02-27.pdf
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author Seonjeong Woo
Youngun Kim
Sohyun Hwang
Hong Jae Chon
author_facet Seonjeong Woo
Youngun Kim
Sohyun Hwang
Hong Jae Chon
author_sort Seonjeong Woo
collection DOAJ
description Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy that includes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer (GBC). While BTC has a low global incidence, its regional variations are notable. Among nations, Korea has the second-highest incidence of BTC globally, with the highest mortality rate worldwide, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of this cancer. Liver fluke infection and hepatitis B virus infection are key risk factors unique to Korea, contributing to regional differences in BTC incidence. Additionally, genomic alterations in Korean patients with BTC differ from those in other populations, including lower frequencies of IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions in ICC and a higher prevalence of ERBB2 amplification in GBC. Recognizing the clinical significance of these alterations, ivosidenib and pemigatinib have been approved in Korea for BTC patients with IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions, respectively. This review explores the epidemiology, risk factors, and molecular features of BTC, along with corresponding targeted therapies. Furthermore, we compare the unique characteristics of BTC in Korea with global data to inform future research and clinical practice.
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spelling doaj-art-5149ec82068a4da4bd39bb44eb1012e72025-08-20T01:52:15ZengKorean Liver Cancer AssociationJournal of Liver Cancer2288-81282383-50012025-03-01251415110.17998/jlc.2025.02.27589Epidemiology and genomic features of biliary tract cancer and its unique features in KoreaSeonjeong Woo0Youngun Kim1Sohyun Hwang2Hong Jae Chon3 Department of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea Department of Medical Oncology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Korea Department of Pathology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, Korea Department of Medical Oncology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, Seongnam, KoreaBiliary tract cancer (BTC) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy that includes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer (GBC). While BTC has a low global incidence, its regional variations are notable. Among nations, Korea has the second-highest incidence of BTC globally, with the highest mortality rate worldwide, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of this cancer. Liver fluke infection and hepatitis B virus infection are key risk factors unique to Korea, contributing to regional differences in BTC incidence. Additionally, genomic alterations in Korean patients with BTC differ from those in other populations, including lower frequencies of IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions in ICC and a higher prevalence of ERBB2 amplification in GBC. Recognizing the clinical significance of these alterations, ivosidenib and pemigatinib have been approved in Korea for BTC patients with IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions, respectively. This review explores the epidemiology, risk factors, and molecular features of BTC, along with corresponding targeted therapies. Furthermore, we compare the unique characteristics of BTC in Korea with global data to inform future research and clinical practice.http://e-jlc.org/upload/pdf/jlc-2025-02-27.pdfbiliary tract neoplasmsepidemiologygenomicsmolecular targeted therapykorea
spellingShingle Seonjeong Woo
Youngun Kim
Sohyun Hwang
Hong Jae Chon
Epidemiology and genomic features of biliary tract cancer and its unique features in Korea
Journal of Liver Cancer
biliary tract neoplasms
epidemiology
genomics
molecular targeted therapy
korea
title Epidemiology and genomic features of biliary tract cancer and its unique features in Korea
title_full Epidemiology and genomic features of biliary tract cancer and its unique features in Korea
title_fullStr Epidemiology and genomic features of biliary tract cancer and its unique features in Korea
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiology and genomic features of biliary tract cancer and its unique features in Korea
title_short Epidemiology and genomic features of biliary tract cancer and its unique features in Korea
title_sort epidemiology and genomic features of biliary tract cancer and its unique features in korea
topic biliary tract neoplasms
epidemiology
genomics
molecular targeted therapy
korea
url http://e-jlc.org/upload/pdf/jlc-2025-02-27.pdf
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AT youngunkim epidemiologyandgenomicfeaturesofbiliarytractcanceranditsuniquefeaturesinkorea
AT sohyunhwang epidemiologyandgenomicfeaturesofbiliarytractcanceranditsuniquefeaturesinkorea
AT hongjaechon epidemiologyandgenomicfeaturesofbiliarytractcanceranditsuniquefeaturesinkorea