Gallbladder Cancer: Epidemiology and Prevention.
8 affiliations
- 1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
- 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, MI, Italy.
- 3Clinical Epidemiology and Research Center (CERC), Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, MI, Italy.
- 4IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, MI, Italy.
- 5Microbiology Department, "Saint Savvas" Oncology Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece.
- 6Laboratory of Haematology and Blood Bank Unit, School of Medicine, "Attiko" Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece.
- 7Neonatal Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, 11528 Athens, Greece.
- 8Laboratory of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus.
Abstract
Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an uncommon but highly lethal malignancy, characterized by striking geographic clustering, late diagnosis, and a prevention profile that differs from other gastrointestinal malignancies. This narrative review synthesizes epidemiologic, mechanistic, clinical, and public-health evidence on GBC determinants with a prevention-oriented lens. Rather than merely cataloguing risk factors, we propose a pragmatic framework that combines epidemiologic credibility, population-attributable burden, baseline risk, biologic plausibility, feasibility, and the benefit-risk balance of possible interventions. The strongest opportunities for prevention arise from risk-stratified management of gallbladder disease and congenital biliary abnormalities, reduction of excess and dysfunctional adiposity, promotion of physical activity, control of chronic Salmonella carriage in endemic settings, and mitigation of selected food- and water-borne toxic exposures. Several other determinants, including diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, reproductive factors, and socioeconomic disadvantage, may inform risk stratification or broader cancer-prevention policy, but currently offer less specific actionability. Effective prevention will require matching interventions to context: population-wide metabolic and lifestyle prevention, targeted clinical management of high-risk gallbladder conditions, and endemic-area strategies addressing infection, environmental exposure, and access to surgery. GBC prevention is therefore possible through carefully evaluated risk-adapted strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{peppas2026gallbladder,
title = {{Gallbladder Cancer: Epidemiology and Prevention.}},
author = {Spyridon Peppas and Gabriel Amorim Moreira Alves and Gisella Figlioli and Andreas G Tsantes and Rozeta Sokou and Georgios K Nikolopoulos and Fares Ayoub and Stefanos Bonovas and Daniele Piovani},
journal = {Cancers},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/cancers18193151},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42882845},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gallbladder Cancer: Epidemiology and Prevention.
AU - Spyridon Peppas
AU - Gabriel Amorim Moreira Alves
AU - Gisella Figlioli
AU - Andreas G Tsantes
AU - Rozeta Sokou
AU - Georgios K Nikolopoulos
AU - Fares Ayoub
AU - Stefanos Bonovas
AU - Daniele Piovani
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - Cancers
DO - 10.3390/cancers18193151
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42882845
AB - Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an uncommon but highly lethal malignancy, characterized by striking geographic clustering, late diagnosis, and a prevention profile that differs from other gastrointestinal malignancies. This narrative review synthesizes epidemiologic, mechanistic, clinical, and public-health evidence on GBC determinants with a prevention-oriented lens. Rather than merely cataloguing risk factors, we propose a pragmatic framework that combines epidemiologic credibility, population-attributable burden, baseline risk, biologic plausibility, feasibility, and the benefit-risk balance of possible interventions. The strongest opportunities for prevention arise from risk-stratified management of gallbladder disease and congenital biliary abnormalities, reduction of excess and dysfunctional adiposity, promotion of physical activity, control of chronic Salmonella carriage in endemic settings, and mitigation of selected food- and water-borne toxic exposures. Several other determinants, including diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, reproductive factors, and socioeconomic disadvantage, may inform risk stratification or broader cancer-prevention policy, but currently offer less specific actionability. Effective prevention will require matching interventions to context: population-wide metabolic and lifestyle prevention, targeted clinical management of high-risk gallbladder conditions, and endemic-area strategies addressing infection, environmental exposure, and access to surgery. GBC prevention is therefore possible through carefully evaluated risk-adapted strategies.
SN - 2072-6694
ER -