Pembrolizumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin for previously untreated advanced/unresectable biliary tract cancer

Pembrolizumab in combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin is being developed for patients with advanced/unresectable biliary tract cancer (BTC). BTC is a rare type of cancer that affects bile ducts and the gallbladder. Bile ducts are tubes that connect the gallbladder and liver to the small bowel. Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder where it is transported to the small intestine to aid the digestion of fatty foods. Advanced biliary tract cancer is cancer that has grown a considerable amount and/or spread to other areas of the body and is incurable. Unresectable BTC is cancer that cannot be surgically removed. Chemotherapy using gemcitabine and cisplatin is standard of care for first-line therapy in patients whose cancer is inoperable, but the disease has a poor outcome. There is a need for alternative treatments such as biological therapies.