MMP9 and hilar cholangiocarcinoma: In summary, experimental results demonstrate that VEGFR-2, Gab1 and MMP-9 are closely correlated with hilar cholangiocarcinoma and that Gab1 or VEGFR-2 up-regulates growth and invasion and down-regulates apoptosis in ICBD-1 cells via the PI3K/Akt pathway.