ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effect of rapamycin on cell growth and migration of gallbladder cancer GBC-SD cells, and to discuss its potential in clinical therapy of gallbladder cancer. Methods: Proliferation of GBC-SD cells treated with different concentrations of rapamycin (12.5, 25, and 50 mmol/L) was examined by MTT assay. Cell cycle distribu-tion and apoptosis of GBC-SD cells treated with different concentrations of rapamycin were determined by flow cytometry. Migration ability of GBC-SD cells was assessed by Transwell assay. The expression of mTOR (mammalian target of rapam-ycin) and its phosphorylation in GBC-SD cells were examined by Western blotting assay. Results: Rapamycin significant-ly inhibited the phosphorylation of roTOR, but had no influence on the expression of roTOR in GBC-SD cells. Rapamycin significantly inhibited the growth of GBC-SD cells in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). Raparnycin induced apoptosis of GBC-SD cells and arrested them at the G_1/S phase. Furthermore, rapamycin also significantly suppressed migration of GBC-SD cells as showed by Transwell assay (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Rapamycin can remarkably inhibit the growth and migration of gallbladder cancer cells, probably by inhibition of p-roTOR pathway, induction of apoptosis and cell cycle ar-rest of gallbladder cancer cells.