Alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive fibroblasts promote biliary cell proliferation and correlate with poor survival in cholangiocarcinoma.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts have been proposed to play a role in promoting carcinogenesis and tumor progression. To our knowledge, no direct evidence concerning fibroblasts in the genesis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has previously been presented. This study aims to assess the value of activated fibroblasts with high alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression as an indicator for survival in CCA patients.