Circulating tumor DNA in cholangiocarcinoma: current clinical applications and future perspectives

Cholangiocarcinoma is a highly heterogeneous malignant tumor, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoportal cholangiocarcinoma and distal cholangiocarcinoma. Its incidence is increasing worldwide and currently accounts for approximately 15% of all primary liver cancers and 3% of all gastro...

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Main Authors: Yi Wang, Yike Li, Zhong Liang, Yuqiao Zhang, Tong Li, Chenjun Tian, Jinyu Zhao, Boru Jin, Jie Cao, Yanyan Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1616064/full
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author Yi Wang
Yike Li
Zhong Liang
Yuqiao Zhang
Tong Li
Chenjun Tian
Jinyu Zhao
Boru Jin
Jie Cao
Yanyan Lin
Yanyan Lin
author_facet Yi Wang
Yike Li
Zhong Liang
Yuqiao Zhang
Tong Li
Chenjun Tian
Jinyu Zhao
Boru Jin
Jie Cao
Yanyan Lin
Yanyan Lin
author_sort Yi Wang
collection DOAJ
description Cholangiocarcinoma is a highly heterogeneous malignant tumor, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoportal cholangiocarcinoma and distal cholangiocarcinoma. Its incidence is increasing worldwide and currently accounts for approximately 15% of all primary liver cancers and 3% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. There is a lack of early diagnostic methods for cholangiocarcinoma, and the overall treatment effect is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 25%. New biomarkers are urgently needed in clinical practice to improve the current diagnosis and treatment status. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is DNA fragments released by tumor cells, which can show tumor-specific gene mutations (such as IDH1/2, FGFR2 fusion) and epigenetic modifications (such as abnormal methylation). With the rapid development of tumor liquid biopsy technology, ctDNA has been gradually applied in solid tumors such as lung cancer and colorectal cancer due to its high sensitivity and dynamic monitoring capabilities. This review systematically introduces ctDNA technology and its progress in early screening, early diagnosis, treatment response, and prognosis monitoring of cholangiocarcinoma. In addition, this review also summarizes the challenges and limitations of current ctDNA technology and analyzes future hot research directions.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
spelling doaj-art-79cb047924c24efa93404cc0812d33cb2025-08-20T03:15:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-07-011310.3389/fcell.2025.16160641616064Circulating tumor DNA in cholangiocarcinoma: current clinical applications and future perspectivesYi Wang0Yike Li1Zhong Liang2Yuqiao Zhang3Tong Li4Chenjun Tian5Jinyu Zhao6Boru Jin7Jie Cao8Yanyan Lin9Yanyan Lin10The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Urology, The First People’s Hospital of Lanzhou City, Lanzhou, ChinaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaWest China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of laboratory, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaCholangiocarcinoma is a highly heterogeneous malignant tumor, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoportal cholangiocarcinoma and distal cholangiocarcinoma. Its incidence is increasing worldwide and currently accounts for approximately 15% of all primary liver cancers and 3% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. There is a lack of early diagnostic methods for cholangiocarcinoma, and the overall treatment effect is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 25%. New biomarkers are urgently needed in clinical practice to improve the current diagnosis and treatment status. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is DNA fragments released by tumor cells, which can show tumor-specific gene mutations (such as IDH1/2, FGFR2 fusion) and epigenetic modifications (such as abnormal methylation). With the rapid development of tumor liquid biopsy technology, ctDNA has been gradually applied in solid tumors such as lung cancer and colorectal cancer due to its high sensitivity and dynamic monitoring capabilities. This review systematically introduces ctDNA technology and its progress in early screening, early diagnosis, treatment response, and prognosis monitoring of cholangiocarcinoma. In addition, this review also summarizes the challenges and limitations of current ctDNA technology and analyzes future hot research directions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1616064/fullcholangiocarcinomacirculating tumor DNAliquid biopsyprognosis monitoringtumor-informed ctDNA
spellingShingle Yi Wang
Yike Li
Zhong Liang
Yuqiao Zhang
Tong Li
Chenjun Tian
Jinyu Zhao
Boru Jin
Jie Cao
Yanyan Lin
Yanyan Lin
Circulating tumor DNA in cholangiocarcinoma: current clinical applications and future perspectives
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
cholangiocarcinoma
circulating tumor DNA
liquid biopsy
prognosis monitoring
tumor-informed ctDNA
title Circulating tumor DNA in cholangiocarcinoma: current clinical applications and future perspectives
title_full Circulating tumor DNA in cholangiocarcinoma: current clinical applications and future perspectives
title_fullStr Circulating tumor DNA in cholangiocarcinoma: current clinical applications and future perspectives
title_full_unstemmed Circulating tumor DNA in cholangiocarcinoma: current clinical applications and future perspectives
title_short Circulating tumor DNA in cholangiocarcinoma: current clinical applications and future perspectives
title_sort circulating tumor dna in cholangiocarcinoma current clinical applications and future perspectives
topic cholangiocarcinoma
circulating tumor DNA
liquid biopsy
prognosis monitoring
tumor-informed ctDNA
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1616064/full
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