CA18122 - EUROPEAN CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA NETWORK (EURO-CHOLANGIO-NET)

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are an heterogeneous group of cancers of the biliary tree. CCA is considered one of the deadliest cancers and its incidence is increasing constantly and dramatically in Europe. Notably, CCA is the most frequent cause of cancer metastases of unknow origin, suggesting underestimation of the CCA problem. CCA heterogeneity has limited the discovery of biomarkers and novel therapeutic options, hampering the development of tools for early diagnosis and effective treatment. CCA constitutes a major challenge for researchers, clinicians, national healt systems and society. Still, coordinated multidisciplinary pan-European studies are lacking. As such, the EURO-CHOLANGIO-NET (European Cholangiocarcinoma Network) aims to set up a pan-European-wide interdisciplinary co-operative network of stakeholders, including scientists, clinicians, regulatory authorities, small/medium enterprises (SMEs) and industry partners, to address the CCA problem. Through the creation of shared data registries inherent main relevant basic or clinic-epidemiologyc aspects, conference calls, meetings, workshops, Short-Term Scientific Missions as well as training schools, this Action will coordinate efforts aiming at advancing the understanding of CCA to translate basic research and preclinical findings into clinical practice. For this purpose, this Action will be organized in 7 Working Groups (WGs) dealing with interrelated aspects of CCA: Preclinical, In-Depth Histomorphological Phenotyping, Molecular Profiling, Epidemiology, Clinical Characterization and Trials, Early Diagnostic Biomarkers, Development of Novel Therapeutic Targets and Tools, Legislation and Ethics. These WGs will work to construct efficient connections, exchanges and promote capacity-building objectives (i.e. data registries, young researchers mobility, meetings, seminars, consensus guidelines and more).