Over-expression of nerve growth factor-β in human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells promote tumor progression.

Aims: It has been shown that nerve growth factor-β (NGF-β) promoted the initiation and progression of many tumors, and we have previously demonstrated that the expression of NGF-β was associated with tumor stage, nerve infiltration and lymph node metastasis in human hilar cholangiocarcinoma. However, whether NGF-β promotes tumor progression in human cholangiocarcinoma requires further investigation. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effects of NGF-β on the progression of human cholangiocarcinoma.

Bmi1 gene silencing inhibits the proliferation and invasiveness of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and increases their sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil.

The Bmi1 gene has been reported to play important roles in cancer initiation and progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of Bmi1 gene expression on the proliferation and invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and on the efficacy of chemotherapy in HCC patients. The Bmi1 gene was silenced by Bmi1-siRNA (small interfering RNA) in the human HCC cell lines HepG2 and Bel-7402, and the gene expression levels were assayed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting.