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Biliary tract cancers (BTC) are a rare heterogeneous disease group with a dismal prognosis and limited treatment options. The mutational landscape consists of genetic aberrations both shared by and characteristic for anatomical location. Here, we present exome sequencing data on 22 genes from a phase 2 trial using a clinically validated panel used in patients with colorectal cancer. A total of 56 patients were included in a one-armed phase 2 trial investigating the treatment combination of capecitabine, gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and cetuximab. Tissue DNA yield and quality allowed analysis of 30 patients on our panel including 22 genes. ARID1A (33%) and TP53 (33%) were found to be most frequently mutated followed by KRAS mutations found in 20% of the patients. Mutational aberrations in ARID1A were found more prevalent than expected, whereas TP53 and KRAS were in concordance with earlier reported data. Mutation in CTNNB1 was significantly associated with poor prognosis. Our panel is clinically validated and suitable for a high volume of samples to detect mutations in patients with BTC. However, it is reasonable to assume that the clinical utility could be optimized in this patient group by extending the panel to include BTC specific mutations with potential therapeutic consequences such as IDH1/2, FGFR fusions, ERBB3, and BRCA1/2.

Background: Patients undergoing curative surgery for cancers of the pancreas, duodenum or bile ducts currently attend follow-up at specialized centers. Traditionally, follow-up after cancer has focused on cancer relapse. The Danish Health and Medicines Authority has recently pushed for a wider focus incorporating patients' individual needs and concerns during cancer rehabilitation. We aimed to explore patients' experiences of and perspectives on the rehabilitative scope of the current follow-up within the first year after curative treatment. Material and methods: A qualitative longitudinal design was undertaken with individual semi-structured interviews. We included twelve patients attending current follow-up after treatment for cancer in the pancreas, duodenum or bile-duct. We interviewed the patients three times over a period of 9 months. Data were analyzed longitudinally using inductive content analysis. Results: The patients experienced the cancer antigen (CA-19-9) as the center piece of follow-up, with consultations revolving largely around the CA-19-9 results. Parallel to and independent of follow-up, the patients described an array of creative strategies for adapting to their altered bodies and new life situation. The strategies included homemade endeavors to minimize gut symptoms, for example mint tablets or dairy products without lactose: realizing life-long dreams and resolving financial matters; confiding with likeminded outside the family or professionals outside the hospital. First encounters with HCPs were critically important with bad first encounters haunting patients throughout follow-up and good first encounters facilitating trust and reciprocity between patients and HCPs. Conclusion: Patients in this study perceived detection of relapse through CA-19-9 as the focal point of follow-up, leaving other patient-important symptoms insufficiently addressed. We may, therefore, consider not using this relatively unprecise marker for relapse in the futur