Bile Duct Cancer Market - Size, Share, Industry Trends, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)

By Type:

The market is segmented based on type into intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and distal cholangiocarcinoma.

Trends in the Type:

• There is increasing prevalence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma on people around the age of 70-75 years which in turn drives bile duct cancer market size.
• Recent statistics reveal that intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma leads to higher mortality rates in males compared to females.

Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma accounted for the largest revenue share of 48.91% in the year 2024.

• Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC), which forms outside the liver, affects a larger number of patients and is consequently diagnosed more frequently than other types of cholangiocarcinoma.
• Growing advancements in medical imaging and the refinement of biochemical and tumor markers are leading to earlier and more frequent identification of iCCA cases globally.
• Rise of targeted therapies and personalized medicine is driving the market.
• Thus, as per analysis, improved diagnostics and early detection and rise of targeted therapies are driving the bile duct cancer market share.

Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma is expected to have the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

• Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has a higher prevalence than EHCC since this type of cancer occurs within the liver.
• Further, the advancement in imaging techniques, liquid biopsies, molecular diagnostics, and others leads to better diagnosis, allowing for timely and effective treatment.
• Furthermore, the extension of precision medicine has led to the development of new targeted drugs for iCCA treatments resulting in high recovery rates.
• Therefore, as per analysis, the rising awareness and better treatment for iCCA is expected to drive the bile duct cancer market growth.

By Product Type:

The market is segmented based on product type into gemcitabine, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, capecitabine, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

Trends in the Product Type:

• Capecitabine is increasingly being combined with other chemotherapeutic agents or targeted therapies to enhance treatment efficacy across various cancers.

• There is a rising number of cholangiocarcinoma patients receiving adjuvant treatment, leading to a significant increase in survival rates, driving bile duct cancer market size.

Cisplatin accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2024.

• Cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapy drug, is frequently combined with gemcitabine to treat advanced cholangiocarcinoma. This combination boosts its ability to control the spread of cancer cells.
• It's comparatively less expensive, making it more affordable than other options like oxaliplatin for targeted drug therapies in turn driving the market.
• Cholangiocarcinoma frequently recurs, and once surgery is no longer effective, cisplatin-based chemotherapy becomes the sole viable option for long-term treatment, driving the bile duct cancer market share.
• Cisplatin has a high clinical efficacy for first-line treatment in improving patient treatment outcomes.
• For instance, an article in NEJM Evidence emphasizes the poor prognosis for patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma, making gemcitabine-based cisplatin a crucial primary treatment. Furthermore, the TOPAZ-1 trial assessed the efficacy of durvalumab combined with chemotherapy for patients suffering from advanced cholangiocarcinoma.
• Thus, as per bile duct cancer market analysis, the insurgence of cholangiocarcinoma has made cisplatin the largest revenue-generating segment in the market.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is expected to have the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

• 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is frequently combined with oxaliplatin to treat cholangiocarcinoma. Recent advancements in clinical trials focusing on sustained-release formulations are enhancing 5-FU's overall effectiveness.
• 5-FU is extensively used in post-surgery and pre-surgery settings for generating more positive outcomes in turn driving the market.
• Increasing Improvements in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are boosting the therapeutic potential of 5-FU, leading to a reduction in side effects from targeted drugs.
• For instance, APEXBio Technology LLC, a premier biotechnology company, offers5-FU under Adrucil, as an anti-cancer agent.
• Therefore, as per analysis, as the treatment dynamics of cholangiocarcinoma are experiencing expansion 5-FU will boost the bile duct cancer market expansion.

By Treatment:

The market is segmented based on treatment into chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and others.

Trends in the Treatment:

• There has been a rise in chemotherapy and targeted therapy to treat cholangiocarcinoma and address its recurrence rates in turn driving the market.
• A modern trend in cancer treatment involves clinical trials focusing on precision medicine for immunotherapies, which are demonstrating improved patient outcomes in turn driving the market.

Chemotherapy accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2024.

• Increasing use of Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in the first-line treatment for the advanced stage of cholangiocarcinoma drives bile duct cancer market growth.
• Gemcitabine is frequently combined with cisplatin to boost its effectiveness, leading to improved patient recovery and survival rates, driving the market.
• For instance, an article published in theNational Library of Medicine (NLM)discusses how the Hepatic arterial infusion pump (HAIP) Chemo has a high survival rate. HAIP combined with floxuridine offers patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) long-duration to live post-treatment.
• Therefore, as ongoing research and development efforts aim to improve cholangiocarcinoma treatments, gemcitabine-based chemotherapy continues to drive the bile duct cancer market.

Targeted Therapy is expected to have the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

• Targeted therapy, especially using fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors, provides precise medical approaches to address the genetic mutations that cause cholangiocarcinoma.
• Compared to traditional chemotherapy or surgeries, targeted therapy has demonstrated promising potential for achieving better progression-free survival rates in patients with cholangiocarcinoma.
• For instance, a researcher at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center developed tinengotinib, a new FGFR inhibitor, through clinical trials. This targeted therapy uniquely combines FGFR2 and offers patients high survival rates while simultaneously curbing the progression of cancerous cells.
• Therefore, as the FDA approvals for FGFR inhibitors grow, they are primed to boost the bile duct cancer market trends.

By Diagnosis:

The market is segmented based on diagnosis into imaging tests (Ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, Genetic Testing), biopsy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and blood tests.

Trends in the Diagnosis:

• CT scans facilitate regular follow-up and monitoring after surgery to detect any cancer recurrence in turn driving the bile duct cancer market trends.
• The emergence of novel imaging tests, particularly Positron emission tomography (PET) scans, has improved the chances of identifying even concealed metastatic cholangiocarcinoma.

CT scan accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2024.

• CT scans provide precise images of the bile ducts, liver, and surrounding organs. which is key to pinpointing the tumor's exact location, determining its size, and identifying if it has spread in turn driving the bile duct cancer market demand.
• Further, CT scans are helpful in the early detection of cholangiocarcinoma as there are no symptoms during the nascent stages.
• CT scans are invaluable for oncologists to gauge treatment progress as it helps determine if a tumor can be surgically removed or if cancer cells have spread to nearby organs.
• For instance, a study in 'Scientific Reports' demonstrated that CT scans, combined with deep-learning (DL) algorithms, accurately detect preoperative recurrence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA).
• Therefore, CT scans are expensive, which paired with their frequent use contributes to a larger revenue generation in turn driving bile duct cancer market demand.

Genetic Testing is expected to have the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

• Genetic testing is proving highly beneficial in the growing field of precision medicine for cholangiocarcinoma, as it allows treatments to be tailored by targeting specific genetic mutations in the cancer.
• The increasing demand for targeted therapies results in a high demand for genetic testing to identify the molecular markers in turn driving the market.
• Increasing advancements in genetic testing, such as liquid biopsy and next-generation sequencing (NGS), have significantly improved the accuracy of genetic testing.
• For instance, an article published in theNational Library of Medicine (NLM)discusses the viability and effectiveness of utilizing pathogenic samples, to reliably identify biliary tract cancer by genetic analysis.
• Thus, based on bile duct cancer market analysis, the aforementioned trends the market are expected to grow during the forecast period.

By End-User:

The market is segmented based on end-users into hospitals, cancer research institutes, specialty clinics, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and others.

Trends in the End-User:

• Increasing adoption of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) for offering minimally invasive surgical outpatient care for localized cholangiocarcinoma cases drives bile duct cancer industry.

Hospitals accounted for the largest revenue share in the year 2024.

• Hospitals provide integrated diagnosis which includes CT scans, genetic testing, biopsies, and others. This increases the efficacy of detecting cholangiocarcinoma at an early stage.
• Further, hospitals are equipped with multidisciplinary teams and high-tech infrastructure necessary for performing complex surgeries like liver transplants or bile duct resections.
• Hospitals often provide radiation therapy or chemotherapy as the primary treatment for metastatic cholangiocarcinoma.
• For instance, theMayo Clinicis a leading hospital in the US that provides effective cholangiocarcinoma treatment. Their multidisciplinary team offers targeted and comprehensive care to individual patients.
• Thus, the hospital's effective infrastructure for treating cholangiocarcinoma makes treatment expensive, leading to larger revenue generation in turn driving the overall industry.

Cancer Research Institutes is expected to have the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

• Cancer research institutes are gaining popularity among patients as they are at the forefront of research and development for targeted therapy cures for cholangiocarcinoma.
• The challenges of rarely detecting cholangiocarcinoma and its low survival rates have spurred pharmaceutical firms, governments, and private companies to increase their investment in cancer research institutes.
• Further, cancer research institutes are advancing novel diagnostic tools like molecular assays and liquid biopsies to improve the management of cholangiocarcinoma.
• For instance, the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute in America stands out as a leading cancer research institution, providing innovative diagnostics and treatment for cholangiocarcinoma. Their team of oncologists, surgeons, and other specialists offers advanced tests, Hepatic Arterial Infusion (HAI) therapy, molecular profiling, and palliative care.

• Thus, as more awareness of cholangiocarcinoma grows, cancer research institutes will drive the bile duct cancer market expansion.

Regional Analysis:

The regions covered are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

Asia Pacific region was valued at 1.04 Billion in 2024. Moreover, it is projected to grow by 1.11 Billion in 2025 and reach over 1.91 Billion by 2032. Out of this, China accounted for the maximum revenue share of 27.90%. In the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, particularly in Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Thailand there's a heightened prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma. This is largely attributed to a high incidence of risk factors such as liver fluke infections, chronic hepatitis B and C infections, and other chronic liver diseases. These conditions collectively increase the likelihood of developing cholangiocarcinoma.

• For instance, in February 2024, Thailand's Public Health Minister has highlighted that the nation experiences the highest rates of bile duct cancer in Southeast Asia, with liver fluke infections identified as the primary contributing risk factor.

North America is estimated to reach over USD 2.43 Billion by 2032 from a value of USD 1.36 Billion in 2024 and is projected to grow by USD 1.44 Billion in 2025. North America, particularly the US and Canada, boasts a well-established healthcare sector that fosters advancements in cancer research and the development of novel cholangiocarcinoma treatments. Government investment in R&D for new targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and integrated treatments is substantial. This commitment has led to high early detection rates and access to advanced medical care, significantly boosting the market.

• For instance, in October 2023, Bristol Myers Squibb, a biopharmaceutical company, acquired Mirati Therapeutics, a commercial-stage biotechnology firm, for USD 4.8 billion. This merger allows Bristol Myers to expand its portfolio by including KRAZATI (adagrasib), a KRASG12C inhibitor that has received U.S. government approval for systemic treatments.

The regional analysis depicts increasing public awareness, the rising incidence of both bile duct and liver cancers, amplified investment in healthcare infrastructure, and an aging population in Europe is driving the market. Additionally, the factors driving the market in the Middle East and African region are growing awareness among healthcare professionals and patients, and expanding healthcare infrastructure. Further, increasing prevalence of risk factors such as chronic liver diseases, a rising incidence of cholangiocarcinoma, and the growing demand for improved diagnostic and treatment options is paving the way for the progress of market trends in Latin America region.