HMQ-T-F2 exert antitumour effects by upregulation of Axin in human cervical HeLa cells.

Looking for novel, effective and less toxic therapies for cervical cancer is of significant importance. In this study, we reported that HMQ-T-F2(F2) significantly inhibited cell proliferation and transplantable tumour growth. Mechanistically, HMQ-T-F2 inhibited HeLa cell growth through repressing the expression and nuclear translocation of β-catenin, enhancing Axin expression, as well as downregulating the Wnt downstream targeted proteins. Knock-down of a checkpoint β-catenin by siRNA significantly attenuated HeLa cell proliferation. Furthermore, XAV939, an inhibitor of β-catenin, was used to treat HeLa cells and the results demonstrated that HMQ-T-F2 inhibited proliferation and migration via the inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.