Testing new blood markers to detect bile duct cancer early

This trial is testing whether eccDNAs—special DNA fragments found in bile fluid—can reliably identify bile duct cancer and other dangerous conditions in patients with suspicious narrowing of their bile ducts. Right now, doctors use standard tissue biopsies that only catch cancer about 45–50% of the time, even when combined with blood tests. Early research suggests these new DNA markers might work much better, so this study is enrolling nearly 100 patients to confirm whether this approach actually works in a larger group.

Most people with bile duct cancer are already at an advanced stage when diagnosed because there's no reliable early detection method. This trial exists to validate whether this new blood marker test could help catch these deadly cancers earlier, when treatment is more effective and survival is better.