Characteristics and clinical outcomes in young-onset versus typical-onset cholangiocarcinoma

Analysis of data in the National Cancer Database compared characteristics and clinical outcomes of young-onset (diagnosed at age 18-49 years) and typical-onset (50+ years) cholangiocarcinoma. Patients with young-onset disease were more likely to be non-White and had a greater proportion of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and stage IV disease. In adjusted analyses, patients with young-onset disease had a 15% risk of death compared with patients with typical-onset disease (HR 0.85; p<0.001). The authors conclude that patients with young-onset cholangiocarcinoma may represent a demographically and clinically distinct group from those with typical-onset disease.