AIM:To study the role of survivin expression induced bychemotherapy agent (doxorubicin) in the development andanti-chemotherapy of cholangiocarcinoma.METHODS:Expression of survivin was detected by SPimmunohistochemical technique in 33 cases ofcholangiocarcinoma,28 cases of adjacent noncancerous bileduct,and 5 cases of benign bile duct lesions.Lowconcentration of doxorubicin (0.05 mg/l) was added incultured cholangiocarcinoma cell line (QBC939).Theexpression of survivin was detected by RT-PCR and Westernblot at 24 h and 48 h after adding doxorubicin.RESULTS:Survivin was expressed in 24 of 33 cholangiocar-cinoma cases (72.7%).In contrast,no expression of survivinin adjacent noncancerous and benign bile duct lesions wasobserved (P<0.01).No correlation was found betweensurvivin expression and clinical features.Doxorubicin couldmarkedly (P<0.001) up-regulate survivin mRNA and proteinexpression of QBC939 cells.CONCLUSION:Overexpression of survivin in cholangiocar-cinomas may play an important role in the development ofcholangiocarcinoma,its relationship with prognosis ofcholangiocarcinoma deserves further investigation.Higherexpression of survivin is induced by doxorubicin in QBC939.Survivin expression may resist apoptosis induced bychemotherapy agents. AIM: To study the role of survivin expression induced by chemotherapy (doxorubicin) in the development and anti-chemotherapy of cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: Expression of survivin was detected by SP immunohistochemical technique in 33 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, 28 cases of adjacent noncancerous bileduct, and 5 cases of The expression of survivin was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot at 24 h and after 48 h after adding doxorubicin .RESULTS: Survivin was expressed in contrast, no expression of survivinin adjacent noncancerous and benign bile duct lesions wasobserved (P <0.01) .No correlation was found betweensurvivin expression and clinical features. Doxorubicin couldmarkedly (P <0.001) in 24 of 33 cholangiocar-cinoma cases (72.7% ) up-regulate survivin mRNA and proteinexpression of QBC939 cells. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of survivin in cholangiocar-cinomas may play an importan t role in the development of cholangiocarcinoma, its relationship with prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma deserves further investigation. Hormone Expression of survivin is induced by doxorubicin in QBC939. Survivin expression may resist apoptosis induced by chemotherapy agents.