Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effect of nigericin on DU145 prostatecancer cells and explore its influence on Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Methods The human prostate cancer cell line DU145 was treated with 5，10 or 20 μmol/L nigericin or with DMSO as a control. Cultures were assessed for viability using the Cell Counting Kit-8，and for migration and invasion ability using transwell assays. The expression of β-catenin and its downstream target genes was analyzed using Western blotting， immunofluorescence and TOP/FOP-flash reporter assays. Results Nigericin showed significant toxicity towards DU145 cells and markedly inhibited their migratory and invasive abilities. The drug also reduced the expression of β-catenin，suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and down-regulating downstream target genes. Conclusion These findings suggest that nigericin significantly inhibits invasion and metastasis of DU145 prostate cancer cells in vitro， and that the drug likely exerts these effects by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Key words: Prostate neoplasm, Nigericin, Prostate cancer cell, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, Invasion, Migration