Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41456235›Full record

ArticleTargeted oncology2026

Claudin-18.2 and Trop-2 as Emerging Biomarkers in Biliary Tract Cancers: Expression Analysis and Therapeutic Potential.

Yeokyeong Shin, Jinho Shin, Hyehyun Jeong, Baek-Yeol Ryoo, Kyu-Pyo Kim, Inkeun Park, Dong-Wan Seo, Do Hyun Park, Tae Jun Song, Dongwook Oh and 6 more

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Article in Targeted oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Yeokyeong Shin *Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
Jinho Shin *Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
Hyehyun Jeong *Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
Baek-Yeol RyooDepartment of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
Kyu-Pyo KimDepartment of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
Inkeun ParkDepartment of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
Dong-Wan SeoDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Do Hyun ParkDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Tae Jun SongDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Dongwook OhDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Dae Wook HwangDepartment of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Jae Hoon LeeDepartment of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Ki Byung SongDepartment of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Song Cheol KimDepartment of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Seung-Mo Hong *Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea. shong28@amc.seoul.kr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8888-6007
Changhoon Yoo *Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea. cyoo.amc@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1451-8455

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBiliary tract cancers (BTCs), including cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma, are aggressive tumors with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting membrane proteins, such as claudin-18.2 (CLDN18.2) and trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop-2), are promising targets for other epithelial cancers. However, their expression patterns and clinical relevance in BTC remain unclear.

objectiveThis study aimed to evaluate CLDN18 and Trop-2 expression levels in BTC and their potential as therapeutic targets. PATIENTS AND

methodsWe retrospectively analyzed 636 patients with BTC who underwent surgical resection at Asan Medical Center between February 1998 and October 2020. Immunohistochemistry was performed using validated antibodies. CLDN18 positivity was defined as membranous staining in ≥ 75% of tumor cells with a moderate-to-strong intensity. Trop-2 expression was quantified by H-score and categorized as low (< 100), medium (100-200), or high (> 200). Associations with clinicopathologic features and survival outcomes were assessed via Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression.

resultsCLDN18 was positive for 5.2% of patients, most frequently in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA, 22.2%). Trop-2 high and medium expression were observed in 69.5% and 20.1% of patients, respectively; its expression was low in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA, 27.3%). CLDN18 expression showed no adverse clinicopathologic features. High expression of Trop-2 was linked to higher T category and more frequent lymphovascular and perineural invasion. Neither biomarker was significantly associated with overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS).

conclusionsCLDN18 was highly expressed in specific BTC subtypes, particularly perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) and gallbladder cancer, while Trop-2 was broadly expressed. These findings supported the potential of CLDN18.2- and Trop-2-directed therapies in BTC.

Indexed as

Antigens, NeoplasmBiliary Tract NeoplasmsBiomarkers, TumorCell Adhesion MoleculesClaudinsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisRetrospective StudiesAntigens, NeoplasmBiomarkers, TumorCell Adhesion MoleculesClaudinsCLDN18 protein, humanTACSTD2 protein, human

Identifiers

PMID41456235

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