Kaempferol inhibits the cell migration of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by suppressing MMP‐9 and Akt signaling

Metastasis is the most prevalent cause of cancer‐related deaths and treatment failure in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Kaempferol is a natural flavonol belonging to the subgroup of flavonoids and exhibits potent anticancer activities. This study provides molecular evidence on the anti‐invasive and anti‐migratory effects of kaempferol on human HCC cells. The anti‐invasive effect was investigated by applying kaempferol on two human HCC cell lines (Huh‐7 and SK‐Hep‐1). Kaempferol reduced the invasion and migration of Huh‐7 and SK‐Hep‐1 cells by Boyden chamber invasion assay and wound healing assay, respectively. A protease array analysis showed that Matrix Metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) was dramatically downregulated in HCC cells after kaempferol treatment. Gelatin zymography and Western blot assay showed that kaempferol reduced the activities and protein expression of MMP‐9, respectively. Kaempferol also sufficiently suppressed the phosphorylation of the Akt expression. Overall, kaempferol inhibited the invasive properties of human HCC cells by targeting MMP‐9 and Akt pathways. Hence, kaempferol could be used as an adjuvant therapeutic agent for the treatment of human HCC cells.