Background/aim: Biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) has extremely poor prognosis because of rapid cancer cell proliferation. The aim of this study was to clarify the significance of keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR) in the proliferation of BTC.
Materials and methods: The expression of KGFR in 34 surgical specimens of BTC was investigated by immunohistochemical staining. The effect of Ki23057, a small synthetic molecule that interrupts the autophosphorylation of KGFR, on the proliferation of human BTC cell lines was examined in vitro and in vivo.
Results: The prognosis for BTC patients with KGFR-positive tumour was significantly poorer than that for those with KGFR-negative tumour. KGF significantly stimulated the proliferation of BTC cell lines. Ki23057 significantly decreased the growth of BTC cells in vitro and in vivo.
Conclusion: KGFR may play an important role in the proliferation of BTC. KGFR phosphorylation inhibitor, Ki23057, therefore appears to be therapeutically promising in BTC.