ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of hepatitis C virus core protein on the infiltration and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma tissues.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2001 to November 2006, 34 patients with cholangiocarcinoma who had intact follow-up data randomly were chosen. The expression of HCVc protein, epithelium markers and mesenchymal markers in cholangiocarcinoma tissues were examined by SP methods of immunohistochemistry, clinical-pathological data were recorded and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive expression rate was observed in 47.1% for HCVc protein, 50% for N-cadherin, 44.1% for Vimentin, 55.9% for Fibronectin and the decreased expression rate was E-cadherin for 55.9%, alpha-catenin for 70.6%, beta-catenin for 55.9%. The positive expression of HCVc protein was associated with the decreased expression of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin and the positive expression of N-cadherin, Vimentin, Fibronectin (chi(2) = 4.480, 4.163, 4.250, 7.438, 12.260, P < 0.05). A positive-correlation between the expression of HCVc protein and metastasis of lymph nodes and other organs were found (chi(2) = 5.708, 4.163, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HCVc protein might promote cholangiocarcinoma tissues' infiltration and metastasis by inducing it's epithelial-mesenchymal transition.</p>