A new International Consensus on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) addressing the basic, molecular, translational, and clinical aspects of the disease has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology. This consensus was led by researchers from the European Network for the Study of Cholangiocarcinoma (ENSCCA).

Investigators from ENSCCA—an internationally recognized, multidisciplinary, and collaborative network in the field of biliary tract cancers—developed this updated International Consensus within the framework of the European COST Action Precision-BTC Network, in collaboration with leading experts worldwide. This publication represents the third international consensus in the field, following the landmark editions published in 2016 and 2020, which together have accumulated more than 3300 citations.

The new consensus provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of current knowledge, integrating advances generated in recent years by multiple research groups and patient advocacy organizations worldwide. The document highlights key basic, translational, and clinical aspects of cholangiocarcinoma, offers new insights into emerging and promising therapeutic strategies, and defines future research directions and priority areas for the field.

Expert recommendations were formulated through a Delphi consensus process, involving 147 international opinion leaders from 35 countries across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, underscoring the global relevance and broad scientific consensus achieved.

The manuscript was published on January 1, 2026, in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology and was coordinated by Professor Jesús M. Bañales, Dr. Pedro M. Rodrigues, and Professor Chiara Braconi.

Article information:

Cholangiocarcinoma 2026: status quo, unmet needs and priorities

Banales JM*, Rodrigues PM*, Affò S, Andersen JB, Aspichueta P, Boulter L, Bridgewater J, Calvisi DF, Cardenas A, Cardinale V, Carpino G, Coulouarn C, Dopazo C, Edeline J, Fabris L, Folseraas T, Forner A, Goeppert B, Heikenwalder M, Kendall TJ, Khan SA, Klümpen HJ, Koerkamp BG, Lamarca A, Lindsey S, Lleo A, Luedde T, Macias RIR, Morement H, Nault JC, Olaizola P, Perugorria MJ, Raggi C, Rimassa L, Saborowski A, Valle JW, Vithayathil M, Vogel A, Braconi C; International CCA Consensus Consortium.

Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2026 Jan;23(1):65-96. doi: 10.1038/s41575-025-01153-w

PMID: 41372578