31/03/2026
A Turning Point in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Bile Duct Cancer: From Progression to Disease Control with ECCT
Rachel Lee Li Ken, a Malaysiian, 51-year-old woman, was diagnosed in May 2025 with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma bile duct cancer after elevated tumour markers were found during a routine health screening. Further evaluation revealed a 7–8 cm liver tumour with additional nodules and lymph node involvement, indicating a significant disease burden from the beginning. She started chemotherapy and immunotherapy on 23 June 2025, and early scans showed some tumour shrinkage. However, at the same time, her tumour marker CA 19-9 rose rapidly from 49 to 927, and then to 1306 within weeks, suggesting that despite imaging improvement, the disease remained active. During this period, she also experienced weight loss (55.8 kg to 52.6 kg), mild fatigue, hair thinning, and transient hyperthyroidism.
ECCT was introduced on 20 July 2025 alongside her ongoing treatment, and from that point a clear shift was observed. Her tumour marker, which had been rising aggressively, began to decline steadily, from 1306.6 to 573.7 by November, to 21.1 in December, and to 16.4 in January 2026, returning to normal range. At the same time, imaging continued to improve, with further reduction in tumour size (approximately 7.8 cm to 7.0 cm), decreased metabolic activity, and regression of lymph node involvement. With this level of control, she was able to undergo successful laparoscopic liver resection (segments 5, 6, 7) and lymph node removal in December 2025.
Follow-up imaging in January 2026 showed no new metastatic disease, stable or reduced lymph nodes, no ascites, and no signs of active progression, with only a small indeterminate area requiring monitoring. Her blood parameters also demonstrated recovery and stability, with haemoglobin improving from 10.5 post-surgery to 12.8, liver enzymes normalising after temporary elevation, albumin remaining stable (41–47), and renal function preserved throughout. Clinically, she maintained good appetite and energy, continued daily activities including walking and Qi Gong, and recovered quickly after surgery, being discharged within five days, without significant ongoing side effects.
Her treatment journey combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy (June–October 2025), continuous ECCT from July 2025 onward with progressive optimisation, surgical resection in December 2025, and ongoing maintenance therapy with ECCT. As of her latest follow-up, she remains clinically stable, with normal tumour markers, no evidence of disease progression, and preserved quality of life. Rachel’s case reflects a true turning point, from a phase of ongoing biological activity despite treatment, to sustained disease control.
https://www.ecct-asia.com/post/intrahepatic-cholangiocarcinoma-bile-duct-cancer-from-progression-to-control