Cancer associated fibroblasts promotes cancer metastasis in cholangiocarcinoma RBE cells

Abstract

Objective Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) have been reported to promote carcinogenesis and tumor progression. However, the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts on the metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma has not been clarified. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cancer-associated fibroblasts on progression of cholangiocarcinoma RBE cell in vitro. Methods Cancer-associated fibroblasts were isolated from the tumor tissue of patients. Then, we established primary cultures of CAF and peri-tumor fibroblasts (PTF) from patients with resected cholangiocarcinoma. Flow cytometric analysis, Western blotting and transwell assay were used in our study. Results The results indicated a higher expression of fibroblast secreted protein-1, fibroblasts activating proteinα, α-Smooth muscle actin and Vimentin in CAF compared to that in PTF. Flow cytometric analysis and transwell assay indicated that conditioned medium from CAF cell cultures increased remarkably the proliferative activity of cholangiocarcinoma RBE cell (5.97±1.59)% vs. (1.59±0.35)%, promoted RBE invasion [24 h, (86.76±6.11)% vs. (51.33±4.04)%] and migration [24 h (103.33±5.73)% vs. (87.00±4.85)%] but had no influence on apoptosis of RBE. Conclusion Our study showed that CAF played an important role in reinforcing cholangiocarcinoma metastasis, suggesting as a therapeutic target in cholangiocarcinoma. Key words: Cancer-associated fibroblasts; Proliferation; Invasion; Migration; Cholangiocarcinoma