Tsukanov VV, Vasyutin AV, Kasparov EV, Tonkikh JL. Gallbladder cancer: Is significant attention to this pathology justified? World J Gastroenterol 2026; 32(23): 118199 [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i23.118199]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Vladislav V Tsukanov, MD, PhD, Full Professor, Clinical Department of the Digestive System Pathology of Adults and Children, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center” of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, 3-G Partizan Zheleznyak Street, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia. gastro@impn.ru
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2026; 32(23): 118199 Published online Jun 21, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i23.118199
Gallbladder cancer: Is significant attention to this pathology justified?
Vladislav V Tsukanov, Alexander V Vasyutin, Edward V Kasparov, Julia L Tonkikh
Vladislav V Tsukanov, Alexander V Vasyutin, Edward V Kasparov, Julia L Tonkikh, Clinical Department of the Digestive System Pathology of Adults and Children, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center” of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia
Author contributions: Tsukanov VV designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript; Tsukanov VV, Vasyutin AV and Kasparov EV participated in drafting the manuscript; Tsukanov VV and Kasparov EV reviewed and edited the manuscript; Vasyutin AV wrote the original draft; Tonkikh JL reviewed the literature; Tsukanov VV, Vasyutin AV, Kasparov EV and Tonkikh JL contributed to this paper; all authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
Corresponding author: Vladislav V Tsukanov, MD, PhD, Full Professor, Clinical Department of the Digestive System Pathology of Adults and Children, Federal Research Center “Krasnoyarsk Science Center” of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North, 3-G Partizan Zheleznyak Street, Krasnoyarsk 660022, Russia. gastro@impn.ru
Received: December 28, 2025 Revised: January 28, 2026 Accepted: March 10, 2026 Published online: June 21, 2026 Processing time: 163 Days and 20.5 Hours
Abstract
The highest incidence rates of gallbladder cancer (GBC) are registered among the populations of South America (Bolivia: 7.6 per 100000 population), Asia (Bangladesh: 5.25 per 100000), and North Africa (Algeria: 2.65 per 100000). Recent studies demonstrate a significant association between GBC, cholelithiasis and extrahepatic gastrointestinal cancer, which allows for the development of a systemic approach to this problem and a more active search for pathophysiological predictors of such a relationship. Changes in the metabolism and ratio of primary and secondary bile acids, mutually regulated by the structure of the gastrointestinal microbiome, which modulate the function of farnesoid X receptor and Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 receptors, influence the differentiation and activity of key substrates of innate and adaptive immunity, and are mutually regulated by the structure of the microbiome, may be a key link explaining the association between GBC and other gastrointestinal oncological diseases. The results of such studies clearly have practical potential for developing original technologies for the gastrointestinal cancers prevention. In this regard, the study by Makdissi et al, published in World Journal of Gastroenterology, analyzing patients with gallbladder cancer in Brazil, provides a basis for developing new approaches to this well-known clinical problem.
Core Tip: Gallbladder cancer is characterized by high malignancy, a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%, and is extremely difficult to early diagnosis. Modern epidemiological studies highlight a strong association of gallbladder cancer with cholelithiasis, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer. Investigation of the mechanisms of interaction between bile acids, gastrointestinal microbiota, the immune response, and metabolic pathways may be the primary pathogenetic paradigm for explaining this phenomenon and offers clear prospects for the development of new research directions to improve therapeutic and preventive technologies.
