Ivosidenib in IDH-mutant cholangiocarcinoma: where do we stand?

Introduction: Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are rare and heterogeneous malignancies associated with poor prognosis, with most of the patients presenting with advanced disease at diagnosis. The recent advent of molecular profiling has led to the identification of several druggable genetic aberrations, and among these, there is an increasing interest in isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH-1) mutations, with the IDH-1 inhibitor ivosidenib that has reported interesting results in advanced CCA patients. Areas covered: Herein, we will critically discuss the current state of the art of ivosidenib in IDH-mutant CCA, especially focusing on efficacy and safety results of recent trials assessing this IDH-1 inhibitor. Expert opinion: According to the results of phase I studies and the recently published ClarIDHy phase III trial, the IDH-1 inhibitor ivosidenib seems to be associated with a manageable safety profile and interesting antitumor efficacy. In particular, the ClarIDHy showed that ivosidenib treatment reported improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared to placebo in previously treated patients, with median PFS of 2.7 and 1.4 months, respectively. However, several questions remain unanswered and the effective impact of ivosidenib in IDH-mutant CCA remains open.