Objective To investigate and compare the biological characteristics and sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy of intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells in vitro.Methods The intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell lines were established

and cells with steady passage were chosen to study the biological characteristics including morphology

growth dynamics

chromosome

and levels of cancer antigen（CA）125

CA19-9

alpha-fetoprotein（AFP）

and carcino-embryonic antigen（CEA）.Meanwhile

MTT assay was used to determine the sensitivity of both kinds of cells to 6 chemotherapeutic drugs

including cisplatin

paclitaxel

harringtonine

5-fluorouracil

vincristine

and aclacimomycin

and the inhibitory rate of cells under the irradiation of 10 Gy ray was also measured.Results The intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells were mostly fusiform in shape

and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells were mostly round or polygon in shape.Their doubling time was 26.3 hours and 23.1 hours

respectively.Their average number of chromosomes was 59（range

38-84）and 67（range

49-103）

respectively.The chromosome karyotypes of most intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells were hyperdiploid and hypotriploid

while hypertriploid was predominant in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells.The level of CA 125 in supernatant of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells increased obviously

while levels of other determined tumor markers in both kinds of cells were all within normal range.The intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells were low sensitive to cisplatin and paclitaxel

but not sensitive to the other 4 chemotherapeutic drugs.The extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells were high sensitive to cisplatin

but not sensitive to the other 5 drugs.Both kinds of cells had poor sensitivity to radiotherapy.Conclusions Intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells show differences in shape

doubling time

chromosome karyotype

tumor marker level

and chemosensitivity

whereas they both have poor radiosensitivity.Though they are similar in histopathology

they have different growth characteristics and have discrepancy in treatment and prognosis.