Different expression pattern of stem cell markers in xenografts of human biliary tract cancer cell lines

Aims: Tumour cells have the capability to trans- and to de-differentiate by re-expressing embryonic development genes and stem cell characteristics. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of putative markers of stem- and progenitor cells in vivo and in vitro using a xenograft model of different human biliary tract cancer (BTC) cell lines.Materials and Methods: Human BTC cell lines CCLP-1, Egi-1, MzChA-1, MzChA-2, SkChA-1, TFK-1 and GBC were cultured under standard conditions in vitro and implanted subcutaneously (5×106 cells) in male NMRI mice. Xenograft tissue specimens were characterized for p…