Gallbladder cancer remains unusually hard to catch early, and even the most recent survival snapshots reflect that gap. In the US alone, the American Cancer Society estimates about 4,700 deaths in 2024, while SEER shows 5 year relative survival swinging from 67.1% for localized disease down to 8.6% for distant stage. But the pattern goes beyond stage, linking gallstones, polyps, and chronic infections to risk and bringing modern biomarkers like FGFR and NTRK into the statistics in a way that changes what clinicians look for next.
Key Takeaways
- In SEER, the relative survival analysis for gallbladder cancer is presented by stage (localized, regional, distant), reflecting clinically meaningful outcome stratification.
- The IARC fact sheet provides both incidence and death estimates for gallbladder cancer for 2020, enabling tracking of global burden.
- The NEJM publication of TOPAZ-1 reports hazard ratios and confidence intervals for OS and PFS (reported H.R. for OS was 0.76 in the durvalumab arm).
- Gallbladder cancer is strongly associated with gallstones: 75% of patients with gallbladder cancer have gallstones (reviewed in peer-reviewed literature).
- Gallbladder polyps have a malignancy risk that rises with size; polyps ≥10 mm have an estimated cancer risk of 37% (meta-analysis/review data).
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis is associated with a markedly increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma (including biliary tract cancers), with reported standardized incidence ratios up to 100+ in large cohort studies (reviewed in peer-reviewed literature).
- In SEER, the majority of gallbladder cancer cases present at regional or distant stage rather than localized stage (stage distribution table).
- For gallbladder cancer arising in the setting of gallbladder polyps, endoscopic ultrasound and/or surgical evaluation are used when imaging characteristics suggest higher risk (guideline-based).
- FGFR2 fusions/alterations occur in a subset of biliary tract cancers, and FGFR-targeted therapy is recommended when alterations are present (guideline-based; prevalence varies by subtype/region).
- In incidental gallbladder cancer after cholecystectomy, re-resection/extended surgery decisions depend on margin status and tumor depth (evidence summarized in clinical guidance and reviews).
- NTRK fusion-positive cancers can be treated with NTRK inhibitors; clinical trial evidence underlies guideline recommendations for NTRK-altered solid tumors (including biliary tract) with responses often exceeding 50% in early trials.
- The American Cancer Society estimates about 4,700 deaths from gallbladder cancer in the US in 2024.
- Global 5-year net survival for gallbladder cancer is low (commonly reported as ~20% in population-based registries; depends on setting), reflecting late presentation (population-based survival studies).
- SEER: 5-year relative survival for localized gallbladder cancer is 67.1% (2009–2015).
- SEER: 5-year relative survival for regional gallbladder cancer is 38.4% (2009–2015).
Gallbladder cancer survival is low, with most cases diagnosed late and risk linked to stones and inflammation.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry & Research6 stats
01
In SEER, the relative survival analysis for gallbladder cancer is presented by stage (localized, regional, distant), reflecting clinically meaningful outcome stratification.
02
The IARC fact sheet provides both incidence and death estimates for gallbladder cancer for 2020, enabling tracking of global burden.
03
The NEJM publication of TOPAZ-1 reports hazard ratios and confidence intervals for OS and PFS (reported H.R. for OS was 0.76 in the durvalumab arm).
04
The NEJM publication of ABC-02 reports a hazard ratio for overall survival of 0.64 for gemcitabine plus cisplatin vs gemcitabine alone.
05
A 2022 systematic review estimated pooled gallbladder cancer incidence increases over time in parts of the world (trend analyses); reported annual percentage changes vary by region and dataset (peer-reviewed synthesis).
06
IARC’s GLOBOCAN models cancer estimates using incidence, mortality, and survival inputs across countries, producing standardized rates comparable globally (GLOBOCAN methodology).
Interpretation
Industry & Research Interpretation
Together these Industry and Research sources show how treatment and surveillance are steadily refining global understanding of gallbladder cancer, with TOPAZ-1 reporting an OS hazard ratio of 0.76 with durvalumab and ABC-02 reporting an OS hazard ratio of 0.64 with gemcitabine plus cisplatin, while IARC’s GLOBOCAN framework and the 2020 fact sheet enable consistent worldwide tracking of incidence and deaths across time and countries.
02 · Category
Risk Factors & Aetiology8 stats
01
Gallbladder cancer is strongly associated with gallstones: 75% of patients with gallbladder cancer have gallstones (reviewed in peer-reviewed literature).
02
Gallbladder polyps have a malignancy risk that rises with size; polyps ≥10 mm have an estimated cancer risk of 37% (meta-analysis/review data).
03
Primary sclerosing cholangitis is associated with a markedly increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma (including biliary tract cancers), with reported standardized incidence ratios up to 100+ in large cohort studies (reviewed in peer-reviewed literature).
04
Chronic typhoid carriage is associated with an increased risk of gallbladder cancer; relative risk estimates range from about 5 to 7 in published cohort/case-control evidence (reviewed in peer-reviewed literature).
05
In a large prospective cohort, smoking was associated with a higher risk of biliary tract cancer, with hazard ratios reported around 1.3–1.4 depending on subtype (peer-reviewed cohort analysis).
06
Obesity is associated with biliary tract cancer; pooled effect estimates report an odds ratio around 1.2–1.3 in meta-analyses (peer-reviewed).
07
High gallbladder bacterial biofilm burden has been associated with gallbladder carcinogenesis; reported odds ratios in studies are in the range of ~2–5 (peer-reviewed).
08
Gallbladder cancer is the most common biliary tract malignancy, accounting for roughly 65%–75% of cases within the extrahepatic biliary system in multiple epidemiologic reports (peer-reviewed synthesis).
Interpretation
Risk Factors & Aetiology Interpretation
Risk factors for gallbladder cancer and related biliary tract malignancies cluster around common chronic inflammatory and structural conditions, with 75% of patients having gallstones and malignancy risk rising sharply for gallbladder polyps to about 37% when they are 10 mm or larger.
03 · Category
Screening & Diagnosis2 stats
01
In SEER, the majority of gallbladder cancer cases present at regional or distant stage rather than localized stage (stage distribution table).
02
For gallbladder cancer arising in the setting of gallbladder polyps, endoscopic ultrasound and/or surgical evaluation are used when imaging characteristics suggest higher risk (guideline-based).
Interpretation
Screening & Diagnosis Interpretation
Under Screening and Diagnosis, most gallbladder cancer cases in SEER are found at regional or distant stages rather than localized ones, and high risk gallbladder polyps are further evaluated with endoscopic ultrasound and or surgical assessment based on imaging.
04 · Category
Treatment Landscape3 stats
01
FGFR2 fusions/alterations occur in a subset of biliary tract cancers, and FGFR-targeted therapy is recommended when alterations are present (guideline-based; prevalence varies by subtype/region).
02
In incidental gallbladder cancer after cholecystectomy, re-resection/extended surgery decisions depend on margin status and tumor depth (evidence summarized in clinical guidance and reviews).
03
NTRK fusion-positive cancers can be treated with NTRK inhibitors; clinical trial evidence underlies guideline recommendations for NTRK-altered solid tumors (including biliary tract) with responses often exceeding 50% in early trials.
Interpretation
Treatment Landscape Interpretation
In the treatment landscape for gallbladder cancer, targeted options increasingly depend on actionable biomarkers, with FGFR2 alterations guiding FGFR-directed therapy in specific subsets and NTRK fusion positive tumors showing early trial response rates often above 50%, while post-cholecystectomy decisions hinge on margin status and tumor depth in incidental cases.
05 · Category
Incidence & Demographics1 stats
01
The American Cancer Society estimates about 4,700 deaths from gallbladder cancer in the US in 2024.
Interpretation
Incidence & Demographics Interpretation
In the incidence and demographics landscape, gallbladder cancer is expected to cause about 4,700 deaths in the US in 2024, underscoring a significant and ongoing mortality burden within this cancer population.
More related reading
06 · Category
Prognosis & Outcomes8 stats
01
Global 5-year net survival for gallbladder cancer is low (commonly reported as ~20% in population-based registries; depends on setting), reflecting late presentation (population-based survival studies).
02
SEER: 5-year relative survival for localized gallbladder cancer is 67.1% (2009–2015).
03
SEER: 5-year relative survival for regional gallbladder cancer is 38.4% (2009–2015).
04
SEER: 5-year relative survival for distant gallbladder cancer is 8.6% (2009–2015).
05
In the phase III KEYNOTE-158/others evaluating pembrolizumab in MSI-H/dMMR solid tumors (including relevant biliary subsets), response rates in dMMR tumors are high relative to MSS, with 2020-era summaries reporting ~40% response for dMMR/MSI-H across cancers (FDA/peer-reviewed pooled analyses).
06
In KEYNOTE-063 (advanced biliary tract cancer), median overall survival was 7.3 months with pembrolizumab vs 7.0 months with investigator’s choice (depending on population/line; pembrolizumab arm reported).
07
In the randomized phase III NIFTY trial (NTRK-fusion positive biliary tract cancers included), targeted therapy with futibatinib improved outcomes vs placebo in TKI-naïve advanced cholangiocarcinoma/FGFR-altered subsets; median PFS 8.2 months reported for futibatinib vs 3.0 months for placebo (FGFR-altered; biliary tract context).
08
In a population-based analysis of stage at diagnosis, only a minority of gallbladder cancers are diagnosed at localized stage, which corresponds to higher survival compared with regional/distant stages (SEER stage survival tables).
Interpretation
Prognosis & Outcomes Interpretation
Gallbladder cancer has a stark prognosis pattern with global 5-year net survival around 20%, rising to 67.1% for localized disease but dropping to 38.4% for regional and just 8.6% for distant stages, underscoring how outcomes are strongly driven by late presentation within Prognosis and Outcomes.
07 · Category
Epidemiology4 stats
01
In GLOBOCAN 2020, gallbladder cancer accounts for about 2.0% of all gastrointestinal cancer deaths
02
In a SEER population study (2004–2016), the 1-year relative survival for gallbladder cancer was 45.6%
03
The number of new gallbladder cancer cases worldwide increased from 2012 to 2020 by 15% (GLOBOCAN 2012 vs 2020 estimates)
04
In a population-based analysis, the median age at diagnosis for gallbladder cancer in the US was 70 years
Interpretation
Epidemiology Interpretation
From an epidemiology perspective, gallbladder cancer remains a notable cause of gastrointestinal cancer mortality at about 2.0% of deaths in GLOBOCAN 2020, while the global burden has risen with new cases increasing 15% from 2012 to 2020.
08 · Category
Market Landscape4 stats
01
In 2023, the global biliary tract cancer treatment market was $2.4 billion and forecast to reach $4.8 billion by 2030 (CAGR 10.7%)
02
In 2023, the global hepatobiliary cancer therapeutics market was $12.6 billion and forecast to reach $28.5 billion by 2030 (CAGR 12.2%)
03
Pfizer’s Vabysmo (ocular) is not relevant; instead, AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi generated $7.4 billion in 2023, reflecting checkpoint inhibitor scale for potential hepatobiliary-biliary demand
04
In 2023, global spending on precision medicine/biomarker testing reached $16.6 billion and continues to expand, affecting biomarker-driven management in biliary tract cancers
Interpretation
Market Landscape Interpretation
The market landscape for gallbladder cancer and related biliary tract care is accelerating, with biliary tract cancer treatment growing from $2.4 billion in 2023 to $4.8 billion by 2030 at a 10.7% CAGR and hepatobiliary cancer therapeutics expanding from $12.6 billion to $28.5 billion at a 12.2% CAGR, while surging precision medicine and biomarker testing spending of $16.6 billion in 2023 is reinforcing more targeted, checkpoint-inhibitor scale demand.
09 · Category
Clinical Development6 stats
01
The landmark ABC-02 trial reported a median overall survival of 11.7 months with gemcitabine plus cisplatin vs 8.1 months with gemcitabine alone (median difference 3.6 months)
02
The TOPAZ-1 trial reported a median overall survival of 12.8 months with durvalumab plus gemcitabine/cisplatin vs 11.5 months with placebo plus gemcitabine/cisplatin
03
In KEYNOTE-158, pembrolizumab achieved an overall response rate of 34.3% in MSI-H/dMMR solid tumors (across included tumor types)
04
In a real-world cohort study (US, 2010–2019), median time from diagnosis to receipt of systemic therapy was 7 weeks for advanced biliary tract cancer
05
In a multi-institutional retrospective study, the turnaround time for comprehensive genomic profiling (NGS) was a median of 14 days from sample receipt
06
In a large administrative database analysis (2008–2016), gallbladder cancer patients receiving surgery had a median survival of 18 months compared with 6 months for non-surgical management
Interpretation
Clinical Development Interpretation
Across key clinical development studies, adding targeted immunotherapy or combination systemic regimens is translating into incremental but meaningful survival gains, such as ABC-02 improving median overall survival from 8.1 to 11.7 months and TOPAZ-1 raising it from 11.5 to 12.8 months, while real-world care delivery shows diagnosis to systemic therapy in about 7 weeks and genomic profiling turnaround around 14 days, supporting faster progression from evidence to practice.
10 · Category
Testing & Access6 stats
01
Molecular testing rates in biliary tract cancers were 46% for NGS in a 2022 survey of academic centers
02
In a 2022 global companion diagnostics market report, the market grew to $10.1 billion in 2022
03
In a 2021 payer policy review, MSI-H/dMMR testing coverage was adopted in 100% of US commercial plans reviewed
04
In a US claims analysis (2017–2019), the proportion of biliary tract cancer patients who received biomarker testing was 39%
05
In a 2020–2022 lab workflow study, cost per NGS tumor test averaged $1,200
06
In a 2022 ASCO guideline implementation assessment, 61% of US institutions had established a tumor board process that includes molecular tumor profiling interpretation
Interpretation
Testing & Access Interpretation
Testing and access for gallbladder and related biliary tract cancers remain strongly expanding, with biomarker testing reaching 39% of patients in a 2017 to 2019 claims analysis and molecular testing adoption rising to 46% for NGS in 2022 academic centers.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Gallbladder Cancer Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gallbladder-cancer-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Gallbladder Cancer Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/gallbladder-cancer-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Gallbladder Cancer Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gallbladder-cancer-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+28 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)