HYD-PEP06 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis,epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell-like properties by inhibiting PI3K/AKT and WNT/β-catenin signaling activation

HYD-PEP06,an endostatin-modified polypeptide,has been shown to produce effective anticolorectal carcinoma effects through inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT).However,whether HYD-PEP06 has similar suppressive effect on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) remained unknown.In this study,HYD-PEP06 inhibited metastasis and EMT but not proliferation in vitro.Cignal finder pathway reporter array and Western blot analysis revealed that HYD-PEP06 suppressed HCCLM3 cell metastasis and EMT by inhibiting the PI3 K/AKT pathway.Moreover,HYD-PEP06 exerted antimetastasis effects in HepG2 cancer stem-like cells(CSCs) via suppressing the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway.Finally,in HCCLM3 tumor-bearing BALB/c nu/nu nude mice,HYD-PEP06 substantially suppressed tumor growth,lung metastasis and HCC progress.Our results suggest that HYD-PEP06 inhibits the metastasis and EMT of HCC and CSCs as well,and thus has the potential as an agent for HCC treatment.