HMQ‑T‑F2 suppresses migration of the human cervical cancer HeLa cells by reversing EMT via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely related to tumor metastasis, and offers insight into novel strategies for cancer treatment. HMQ-T-F2 (F2) is a taspine derivative, which has excellent anticancer activity in human cervical cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of F2 on in vitro migration of HeLa cells. The present data demonstrated that F2 inhibited migration of HeLa cells by negatively regulating the Wnt signaling pathway and reversing EMT. F2 not only mediated Frizzled8, p-LRP6 and LRP6 expression, but also downregulated the phosphorylation of GSK3β, and concurrently decreased the nucleus protein expression of MMP2, MMP3, MMP7, MMP9, and c-Myc. In addition, the expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail and HIF-1α were downregulated and that of E-cadherin was upregulated after F2 treatment. F2 was also associated with the downregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. Notably, F2 induced HeLa cell accumulation at the S phase and cell apoptosis. These results provide evidence that F2 inhibits HeLa cell migration, proliferation and promotes apoptosis. It also reverses EMT, potentially via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, F2 may be a potential therapeutic reagent against cervical cancer.