This study employed real time PCR to verify the up-regulation of these genes, and found that only ADAM12, AREG, ER, JAGL1, PDGF-A, PN and SCG2 were significantly increased in their expression levels in CCA-derived fibroblasts and may promote CCA progression through activation of cancer growth, invasion and angiogenesis. The gene discussed is AREG; the disease is cholangiocarcinoma.