Neutral effects of common variation in the hepatocanalicular phosphatidylcholine transporter ABCB4 and the bile salt export pump ABCB11 on genetic cholangiocarcinoma risk

Background: The pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) as the second most common primary liver cancer is poorly characterized. However, the combined effects of inflammation and/or cholestasis are considered to be central to CCA formation. Whereas information on inherited risk factors underlying CCA susceptibility is limited, genetic variation in hepatobiliary transporters has been suggested to modulate genetic risk.(1) Therefore we now aimed to investigate selected hepatobiliary transporter variants in an independent large European cohort of CCA patients. Patients and Methods: Overall, 226 individuals with CCA…