Establishment and Exploitation of a European-Latin American Research Consortium Towards Eradication of Preventable Gallbladder Cancer - EULAT Eradicate GBC
Gallstones are relatively frequent in women and constitute one of the main risk factors for gallbladder cancer (GBC). Currently, GBC diagnosis is mainly based on imaging (ultrasound or abdominal CT) associated with invasive examinations (biopsy and surgery), with no marker available to date to accurately predict risk and diagnose the disease early. The only curative treatment for GBC remains surgery with complete resection of tumors in early stages. Given the aggressiveness of GBC and the very limited therapeutic options, as well as the possibility of preventing GBC by cholecystectomy during the 10 to 20 years required for the development of gallbladder tumors, it is imperative to develop effective and efficient prevention strategies based on a prioritization of interventions according to environmental and genetic-molecular risk factors. The investigators aim to identify epidemiological factors linked to the development of GBC, and to identify, validate and functionally characterize genetic-molecular markers in blood, saliva, urine, bile and stool that allow risk prediction, early diagnosis and precision treatment of incidental tumors.
• Cohort A. Patients with gallbladder cancer or dysplasia, both before and after the start of their anticancer treatment.
• Cohort B. Patients with cholelithiasis before cholecystectomy (only patients scheduled for cholecystectomy will be recruited)
• Diagnosis confirmed in accordance with standard protocols of the participating hospitals
• Men and women aged 18 or over