Serum tumor markers in bile duct cancer - a review

Context: Bile duct cancer (BDC) is a disease with a very grave prognosis, often diagnosed too late. Objective: The aim of this review is to evaluate available literature on tumor markers in serum from patients with BDC. Methods: Using the search words serum markers'', bile duct cancer'', cholangiocarcinoma'', biomarker'' and tumor marker'', a search was carried out. Results: Seventy-five studies were included in the review. Conclusion: CA19-9 is by far the most studied and most promising diagnostic and/or prognostic marker in BDC. But also the different mucins are interesting as new markers of BDC in serum.