WRH-2412 alleviates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through regulation of TGF-β/β-catenin/α-SMA pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is considered one of the most lethal cancers, which is characterised by increasing prevalence associated with high level of invasion and metastasis. The novel synthetic pyrazolo[3,4-]pyridine compound, , was reported to exhibit antitumor activity. This study was conducted to evaluate the antitumor activity of in HCC induced in rats through affecting the TGF-β/β-catenin/α-SMA pathway. Antitumor activity of was evaluated by calculating the rat's survival rate and by assessment of serum α-fetoprotein. Protein expression of TGF-β, β-catenin, E-cadherin, fascin and gene expression of SMAD4 and α-SMA were determined in hepatic tissue of rats. produced antitumor activity by significantly increasing the rats' survival rate and decreasing serum α-fetoprotein. significantly reduced an HCC-induced increase in hepatic TGF-β, β-catenin, SMAD4, fascin and α-SMA expression. In addition, significantly increased hepatic E-cadherin expression.