ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of mutant exogenous P27(kip1) gene on chemosensitivity of human cholangiocarcinoma cell line.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The recombinant vector was constructed and the mutant P27(kip1) gene was transfected into human cholangiocarcinoma cell line (QBC(939)). RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determine the expression of target genes. The effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), mitomycin C (MMC) and cyclophosphamide (CTX) on the transfected cells were detected by assaying the apoptotic rate and growth inhibition by methabenzthiazuron (MTT) assay and flow cytometry (FCM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mutant exogenous P27(kip1) gene was expressed effectively in the cells, and the expression enhanced the apoptosis and growth inhibition of QBC(939) inducted by 5-FU, MMC and CTX. The ratio of growth inhibiting increased significantly from 41.89% (5-FU), 45.59% (MMC), 38.91% (CTX) to 56.15% (5-FU), 55.65% (MMC), 51.69% (CTX), and apoptosis index from 13.76% +/- 3.03% (5-FU), 11.76% +/- 3.99% (MMC), 10.46% +/- 2.10% (CTX) to 41.39% +/- 4.32% (5-FU), 35.94% +/- 2.71% (MMC), 34.46% +/- 2.32% (CTX) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The exogenous P27(kip1) gene transfer can remarkably increase the drug sensibility of the cholangiocarcinoma cells. The strategy targeted to control the cell cycle may be more effective in cancer treatment by combination of P27(kip1) gene therapy.</p>