Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive cancer of the bile duct epithelium. Anthocyanins are water‑soluble flavonoids that contribute to the color of fruits and pigmented rice. Black rice bran is rich in anthocyanin pigments and exhibits certain health benefits, including anticancer activity; however, the effect of black rice bran‑derived anthocyanins (BBR‑M‑10) on CCA progression remains unclear. The present study assessed the cytotoxic effects of BBR‑M‑10 using a Sulforhodamine B assay. The metastatic properties of BBR‑M‑10 on CCA cell lines were investigated using wound healing, Transwell in vitro migration and invasion assays. The underlying mechanisms of BBR‑M‑10 bioactivity were examined by quantitative PCR and western blotting. Glycosylation changes were determined by lectin cytochemistry and flow cytometry. The present study demonstrated that BBR‑M‑10 was not toxic to CCA cell lines, but BBR‑M‑10 attenuated CCA cell migration and invasion, as evidenced by the increased expression levels of epithelial markers (F‑actin and claudin‑1), decreased expression levels of mesenchymal markers (vimentin) and a decrease in the activation and phosphorylation of AKT in BBR‑M‑10‑treated CCA cell lines. In addition, aberrant glycosylation was observed in BBR‑M‑10‑treated CCA cell lines, as evidenced by the low expression level of surface Sambucus Nigra lectin‑binding α2,6‑sialylated glycans and the reduction of α2,6 sialyltransferase gene expression levels after BBR‑M‑10 treatment in CCA cell lines. These findings suggested that black rice bran‑derived anthocyanins could potentially be used as anti‑metastatic agents against CCA.

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