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Phase II/III | Multicenter randomized trial (ZSAB Study Group) | n=178 | High-risk resectable ICC | NEJM 2026
**Shi et al.**
Published in New England Journal of Medicine, 2026
[PubMed Link](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41780001/)
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### Essential Takeaway
neoGOLP was the first randomized trial to demonstrate benefit from neoadjuvant therapy in resectable high-risk intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Neoadjuvant GemOx, lenvatinib, and toripalimab significantly improved event-free survival compared with upfront surgery followed by adjuvant capecitabine.
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### Clinical Question
Does neoadjuvant GOLP improve outcomes compared with upfront surgery in patients with resectable high-risk ICC?
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### Population
Resectable ICC with at least one high-risk feature:
- Tumor >5 cm
- Multifocal disease
- Vascular invasion
- Portal lymph node metastasis
- Elevated CA 19-9
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### Study Design
Randomized 1:1 multicenter trial.
#### Arm 1 — neoGOLP
- Gemcitabine/oxaliplatin
- Lenvatinib
- Toripalimab
Followed by:
- Curative-intent resection
- Adjuvant capecitabine
#### Arm 2 — Surgery First
- Immediate resection
- Adjuvant capecitabine
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### Endpoints
#### Primary Endpoint
- Event-free survival
#### Secondary Endpoints
- Overall survival
- Objective response
- R0 resection
- Major pathologic response
- Recurrence-free survival
- Safety
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### Key Results
#### Event-Free Survival
- 18.0 vs 8.7 months
- p < 0.001
#### Overall Survival
24-month OS:
- 79% vs 61%
Strongly favored neoGOLP but did not meet the prespecified interim significance boundary.
#### Objective Response
- 55%
#### Pathologic Response
- Major pathologic response: 19%
- Pathologic complete response: 5%
#### Surgical Outcomes
- Surgery performed: 97% vs 99%
- R0 resection: 95% vs 93%
#### Toxicity
During neoadjuvant therapy:
- Grade ≥3 adverse events: 28%
- Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events: 26%
- No treatment-related deaths
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### Interpretation
neoGOLP represents the strongest prospective evidence to date supporting neoadjuvant therapy for high-risk resectable ICC.
Unlike NEO-GAP, which established feasibility, neoGOLP demonstrated improved event-free survival in a randomized trial. The study supports biologic selection and early systemic therapy before major hepatectomy in patients at high risk for recurrence.
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### Important Limitations
- Interim analysis
- Overall survival immature
- Conducted exclusively in China
- Regimen may not be globally generalizable
- Very high R0 rates in both arms
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### Relationship to Other ICC Trials
#### BILCAP
Established adjuvant capecitabine after BTC resection.
#### NEO-GAP
Established feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk resectable ICC.
#### neoGOLP
First randomized trial demonstrating improved event-free survival with neoadjuvant therapy in high-risk resectable ICC.
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### Practice Impact
neoGOLP may shift high-risk resectable ICC toward a neoadjuvant-first paradigm, though longer follow-up and broader external validation are needed.