Establishment of cancer cell lines from rat hepatocholangiocarcinoma and assessment of the role of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and hepatocyte growth factor in their growth, motility and survival.

Background/aims: Oval cells (OCs), putative hepatic stem cells, may give rise to liver cancers. We developed a carcinogenesis regimen, based upon induction of OC proliferation prior to carcinogen exposure. In our model, rats subjected to 2-acetylaminofluorene/ partial-hepatectomy followed by aflatoxin injection (APA regimen) developed well-differentiated hepatocholangiocarcinomas.