Juan Valle, Chief Medical Officer at Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, shared on LinkedIn:
“At UEG Week 2026, Dr. Bas Groot Koerkamp, a member of the International Cholangiocarcinoma Research Network (ICRN), presented late-breaking results from the TESLA-RCT, a randomized clinical trial comparing two approaches to relieving malignant biliary obstruction.
The findings are striking:
- 40% vs. 66%: Major complications occurred in patients who received primary percutaneous stenting (PPS) compared with endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD).
- A 26-percentage-point absolute reduction: For every four patients treated with PPS, one major complication was avoided.
- 10-fold lower risk of cholangitis: 3% with PPS compared with 32% with EBD.
- Fewer repeat procedures: 14% of patients receiving PPS required re-intervention, compared with 49% receiving EBD.
For patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, relieving biliary obstruction is lifesaving. Reducing complications, infections, and the need for additional procedures could make a meaningful difference in their care. Dr. Groot Koerkamp described the findings as practice-changing, stating that primary percutaneous stenting should be the standard of care.
Research like this underscores the importance of rigorous clinical trials and collaboration across the cholangiocarcinoma research community.
At the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, we are proud to support a global network of researchers working to advance knowledge and improve outcomes for people affected by this disease. Congratulations to Dr. Groot Koerkamp and the entire TESLA-RCT team on this important work.”
You can also read: FDA Approved Lirafugratinib for FGFR2 Fusion or Rearrangement–Positive Cholangiocarcinoma.
