Photodynamic therapy prolongs metal stent patency in patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Table 1 Patient characteristics n (%)

	PDT group (PDT with metal stenting)	Control group (metal stent only)
	(n = 18)	(n = 15)
Age, yr (range)	65.6 (44-89)	67 (53-82)
Male sex	12 (66)	12 (80)
AJCC stage1
II	3 (17)	0 (0)
IIIA/IIIB	0 (0)/6(33)	3 (20)/5 (33)
IVA/IVB	7 (39)/2 (11)	1 (7)/6 (40)
Bismuth type
II	3 (17)	4 (27)
III	5 (28)	7 (47)
IV	10 (55)	4 (27)
Lymph node metastasis	13 (72)	10 (67)
Liver metastasis	2 (11)	2 (17)
CA 19-9 (U/mL)	229 (0.9-4800)	480 (1.3-4800)
Pre-albumin (g/dL)	3.5 (2.1-4.5)	3.2 (2.0-4.3)
Bilirubin (mg/dL)
Pre-treatment	8.5 (0.6-31.9)	12.3 (0.9-26.0)
Post-treatment	1.3 (0.5-14.3)	2.9 (0.3-26.0)
Successful drainage2	15 (83)	12 (86)
Histologic confirmation	14 (78)	10 (67)
Unilateral/bilateral stenting	10 (55)/8 (45)	11 (73)/4 (27)
Early complications of procedure	3 (17)	2 (13)
Stent malfunctions	14 (78)	12 (80)
Follow-up period (median, d)	437	230

¹American Joint Committee Cancer (AJCC) staging 7th edition;

²Decrease of bilirubin to less than 50% of the pretreatment value within 7 d. Data are expressed as medians (range). PDT: Photodynamic therapy; CA: Carbohydrate antigen.