DZNep inhibits Hif-1α and Wnt signalling molecules to attenuate the proliferation and invasion of BGC-823 gastric cancer cells.

3-deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) is a histone methyltransferase inhibitor, which may cause the reactivation of silenced tumor suppressor genes in tumors to inhibit the development, metastasis and dissemination of tumor cells. However, the effects and mechanisms of its application in gastric cancer remain unclear. The present study revealed an inhibitory function of DZNep in BGC-823 cells. The cell colony, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), wound healing, Transwell and flow cytometry assays were performed, and the results demonstrated that DZNep could inhibit the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of BGC-823 cells, and promote their apoptosis. The effects of intervention in BDC-823 cells with DZNep on the RNA and protein expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor (Hif-1α) and Wnt/β-catenin signalling molecules were further examined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that different concentrations of DZNep could inhibit the expression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) protein, decrease the RNA and protein expression levels of Hif-1α, total β-catenin and phosphorylated-β-catenin and increase the expression levels of non-phosphorylated-β-catenin to different degrees. The results of the present study suggests that DZNep inhibits BGC-823 gastric cancer cells via the inhibition of EZH2, Hif-1α and Wnt/β-catenin signalling molecules. These results provide theoretical basis for the application of DZNep in clinical trials.