About bile duct cancer
Frequency and types of bile duct cancer
What are bile ducts?
The bile duct is a thin tube, about 4 to 5 inches long, that moves bile (a fluid that digests the fats in food) from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. Many smaller ducts and ductules within the liver join together to form the main bile duct (sometimes called the “common bile duct”).
How common is bile duct cancer?
Bile duct cancer is a rare cancer, with about 8,000 new cases in the United States per year. Rare cancers are those with fewer than 40,000 new cases nationally per year.
Types of bile duct cancer
There are 2 different types of bile duct cancer, based on where the cancer is found in the bile duct system. Intrahepatic bile duct cancer forms in bile ducts inside the liver, while extrahepatic bile duct cancer forms outside the liver.
Understanding genetic testing for bile duct cancer
There may be certain changes to the DNA (gene mutations) in your bile duct cancer cells that your healthcare provider can check for using genetic testing. Such mutations can develop over time, which can explain why the first treatment you receive may stop working.
Whether or not a tumor has gene mutations (and the kind of mutations, if any) is what makes each case of bile duct cancer unique.
- There are about 25 known mutations associated with bile duct cancer, including FGFR2 gene mutations
- FGFR2 gene mutations are found in 10%-16% of intrahepatic bile duct cases
Genetic testing is an important tool in helping to make sure your next treatment is personalized to best address your specific needs. The process involves taking a biopsy (a tissue sample from the tumor) and sending it to a lab for analysis.
If any mutations are detected, it may open up additional treatment options for your bile duct cancer.
FGFR2=fibroblast growth factor receptor 2.
WHAT IS LYTGOBI?
LYTGOBI is a prescription medicine that is used to treat adults with bile duct cancer (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma) that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, who have already received a previous treatment, and whose tumor has a certain type of abnormal “FGFR2” gene.
Your healthcare provider will test your cancer for a certain type of abnormal FGFR2 gene and make sure that LYTGOBI is right for you.
It is not known if LYTGOBI is safe and effective in children.
LYTGOBI is approved based on tumor response and duration of response. There are ongoing studies to show if LYTGOBI improves survival or symptoms.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
LYTGOBI may cause serious side effects, including:
- Eye problems: Certain eye problems are common with LYTGOBI but can also be serious. Eye problems include dry or inflamed eyes, inflamed cornea (front part of the eye), increased tears, and a disorder of the retina (an internal part of the eye). You will need to see an eye specialist for a complete eye exam before you begin treatment with LYTGOBI, every 2 months for the first 6 months, and every 3 months thereafter during treatment with LYTGOBI.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any changes in your vision during treatment with LYTGOBI, including blurred vision, flashes of light, or seeing black spots. You may need to see an eye specialist right away.
- You should use artificial tears or substitutes, or hydrating or lubricating eye gels during treatment with LYTGOBI to help prevent or treat dry eyes.
- High phosphate levels in your blood (hyperphosphatemia) and buildup of minerals in different tissues in your body: Hyperphosphatemia is common with LYTGOBI but can also be serious. High levels of phosphate in your blood may lead to buildup of minerals such as calcium in different tissues in your body. Your healthcare provider will check your blood phosphate levels during treatment with LYTGOBI.
- Your healthcare provider may prescribe changes in your diet or phosphate-lowering therapy, or change, interrupt, or stop LYTGOBI if needed.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any muscle cramps, or numbness or tingling around your mouth.
The most common side effects of LYTGOBI include:
- changes in kidney function blood tests
- increased blood glucose level
- decreased red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts
- increased calcium level in the blood
- decreased sodium and phosphate levels in the blood
- changes in liver function blood tests
- nails separate from the bed or poor formation of the nail; change in the color of nails
- muscle pain
- constipation
- diarrhea
- feeling tired or weak
- changes in tests used to measure your blood clotting time
- dry mouth
- hair loss
- decreased protein level (albumin) in the blood
- mouth sores
- stomach area (abdominal) pain
- dry skin
- decreased glucose and potassium level in the blood
- joint pain
- changes in sense of taste
- dry eye
- nausea
- decrease in appetite
- urinary tract infection
- redness, swelling, peeling or tenderness, mainly on the hands or feet (“hand-foot syndrome”)
- vomiting
These are not all the possible side effects of LYTGOBI. For more information, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before you take LYTGOBI, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have vision or eye problems.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. LYTGOBI can harm your unborn baby or cause loss of your pregnancy (miscarriage). You should not become pregnant during treatment with LYTGOBI.
- Females who can become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with LYTGOBI.
- You should use an effective method of birth control during treatment and for 1 week after your final dose of LYTGOBI. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think that you may be pregnant.
- Males with female partners who can become pregnant:
- You should use effective birth control when sexually active during treatment with LYTGOBI and for 1 week after your last dose of LYTGOBI.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if LYTGOBI passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 1 week after your last dose of LYTGOBI.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. LYTGOBI and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. LYTGOBI may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how LYTGOBI works.
WHAT IS LYTGOBI?
LYTGOBI is a prescription medicine that is used to treat adults with bile duct cancer (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma) that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, who have already received a previous treatment, and whose tumor has a certain type of abnormal “FGFR2” gene.
Your healthcare provider will test your cancer for a certain type of abnormal FGFR2 gene and make sure that LYTGOBI is right for you.
It is not known if LYTGOBI is safe and effective in children.
LYTGOBI is approved based on tumor response and duration of response. There are ongoing studies to show if LYTGOBI improves survival or symptoms.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
LYTGOBI may cause serious side effects, including:
- Eye problems: Certain eye problems are common with LYTGOBI but can also be serious. Eye problems include dry or inflamed eyes, inflamed cornea (front part of the eye), increased tears, and a disorder of the retina (an internal part of the eye). You will need to see an eye specialist for a complete eye exam before you begin treatment with LYTGOBI, every 2 months for the first 6 months, and every 3 months thereafter during treatment with LYTGOBI.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any changes in your vision during treatment with LYTGOBI, including blurred vision, flashes of light, or seeing black spots. You may need to see an eye specialist right away.
- You should use artificial tears or substitutes, or hydrating or lubricating eye gels during treatment with LYTGOBI to help prevent or treat dry eyes.
- High phosphate levels in your blood (hyperphosphatemia) and buildup of minerals in different tissues in your body: Hyperphosphatemia is common with LYTGOBI but can also be serious. High levels of phosphate in your blood may lead to buildup of minerals such as calcium in different tissues in your body. Your healthcare provider will check your blood phosphate levels during treatment with LYTGOBI.
- Your healthcare provider may prescribe changes in your diet or phosphate-lowering therapy, or change, interrupt, or stop LYTGOBI if needed.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any muscle cramps, or numbness or tingling around your mouth.
The most common side effects of LYTGOBI include:
- changes in kidney function blood tests
- increased blood glucose level
- decreased red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts
- increased calcium level in the blood
- decreased sodium and phosphate levels in the blood
- changes in liver function blood tests
- nails separate from the bed or poor formation of the nail; change in the color of nails
- muscle pain
- constipation
- diarrhea
- feeling tired or weak
- changes in tests used to measure your blood clotting time
- dry mouth
- hair loss
- decreased protein level (albumin) in the blood
- mouth sores
- stomach area (abdominal) pain
- dry skin
- decreased glucose and potassium level in the blood
- joint pain
- changes in sense of taste
- dry eye
- nausea
- decrease in appetite
- urinary tract infection
- redness, swelling, peeling or tenderness, mainly on the hands or feet (“hand-foot syndrome”)
- vomiting
These are not all the possible side effects of LYTGOBI. For more information, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Before you take LYTGOBI, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have vision or eye problems.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. LYTGOBI can harm your unborn baby or cause loss of your pregnancy (miscarriage). You should not become pregnant during treatment with LYTGOBI.
- Females who can become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with LYTGOBI.
- You should use an effective method of birth control during treatment and for 1 week after your final dose of LYTGOBI. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think that you may be pregnant.
- Males with female partners who can become pregnant:
- You should use effective birth control when sexually active during treatment with LYTGOBI and for 1 week after your last dose of LYTGOBI.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if LYTGOBI passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 1 week after your last dose of LYTGOBI.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. LYTGOBI and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. LYTGOBI may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how LYTGOBI works.