The Wnt signaling pathway is activated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the effects of FH535, an inhibitor of the Wnt signaling pathway, on the proliferation and motility of HCC cells. HLF cells and PLC/ PRF/5 cells, HCC cells, were subjected to 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) assay with the addition of FH535. RNA was isolated from the cells and subjected to real-time quantitative PCR.

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... n and eosin (H&E) staining was performed to analyze apoptosis. A scratch assay was performed to analyze cell motility. Cell proliferation significantly decreased (P<0.05). The expression levels of cyclin D1 significantly decreased in both cell lines (P<0.05). Pyknotic nuclei were observed in the cells cultured with FH535 (50 µM). In the scratch assay, the distance between the growing edges of cells and the scratched line significantly decreased with the addition of FH535 at 50 µM (P<0.05). The expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 significantly decreased at 50 µM (P<0.05). FH535 suppressed the proliferation of HCC cells by downregulating the expression of cyclin D1 and by inducing apoptosis. Further, it suppressed cell motility by downregulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinase.