Objective: To investigate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) on invasive capability and proliferation of human cholangiocarcinoma cells. Methods: The effect of VEGF-C on FRH0201 was assayed by MTT. The cycle pattern and apoptosis was assayed using flow cytometry. The effect of VEGF-C on homotypic adhesion and metastasis in FRH0201 was examined with 3H-TdR infiltration and Boyden chamber. Results: VEGF-C could enhance the proliferation of FRH0201 in a dose and time dependent manner. And VEGF-C could inhibit cell apoptosis significantly. After cultured for 2 hours with 1, 5, 10ng/ml of VEGF-C, there were more cells in the lower chamber than the control group. After 60, 90, 120 minutes induction by 1ng/ml、5ng/ml、10ng/ml, the cells showed significantly lower homotypic adhesion than that of the control group. Conclusions: VEGF-C could enhance the proliferation of FRH0201 and inhibit cell apoptosis. VEGF-C could decrease homotypic adhesion of FRH0201 and might be a cause of the metastasis.