Objective:To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the proliferation and invasion of human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells, and explore the possible mechanisms.
Methods :The human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cell line was incubated with different concentrations of atorvastatin for 48h. MTT assay for cell growth and viability，Boyden chamber for invasion and motility assays, and semiquantitative RT-PCR to determine mRNA of p27，MMP-9 and RhoC.
Results:The results showed that atorvastatin inhibited growth and proliferation of QBC939 cells, with a time- and dose-dependent inhibition, and at an IC50 value of 25 umol/L,inhibition was most marked at 48 h. Also, atorvastatin-treated（10 μmol/L，25 μmol/L，50 μmol/L for 48 h） cells were less motile and invasive.Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that atorvastatin treatment reduced MMP-9 expression and upregulated the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 in QBC939 cells, but RhoC was not significantly altered between the experimental groups.
Conclusions:Atorvastatin can inhibit proliferation and invasion of human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells.