Current Research

Research for gallbladder cancer is ongoing. The following advances may still be under investigation in clinical trials and may not be approved or available at this time. Always discuss all diagnostic and treatment options with your doctor.

Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy (also called biologic therapy) is designed to boost the body’s natural defenses to fight the cancer. It uses materials either made by the body or in a laboratory to bolster, target, or restore immune system function. Current clinical trials are testing immunotherapy as a way to treat gallbladder cancer.

Gene therapy. Gene therapy is an experimental treatment that involves introducing genetic material into a person’s cells to treat cancer. Gene therapy is being studied in clinical trials for many different types of cancer and for other diseases.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy improvements. Currently, the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for the treatment of gallbladder cancer is limited. Clinical trials are evaluating new drugs for gallbladder cancer and trying to increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy.