RESUMEN
This study aims to investigate the effect of baicalein on the metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells, and to elucidate the potential molecular mechanisms. Wound healing and Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to detect the effect of baicalein on the migration and invasion of EC9706 and KYSE30 cells; the nude mice models of lung metastasis were applied to examine the function of baicalein in metastasis of ESCC by using KYSE30 cells. All animals were received humane care according to the Institutional Animal Care Guidelines approved by the Experimental Animal Ethical Committee of Henan University. Western blot assay was used to detect the protein levels of ERK/ELK-1/Snail signaling pathway. The data showed that baicalein significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of EC9706 and KYSE30 cells; Mechanistically, baicalein treatment led to a dramatically reduced expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2, T202/Y204), p-ETS-domain containing protein-1 (p-ELK-1, S383), Snail, N-cadherin, and Vimentin, and a statistical increase of E-cadherin expression in EC9706 and KYSE30 cells; Furthermore, the inhibition of ERK1/2 by U0126 or siRNA remarkably enhanced the effect of baicalein on the above proteins. In summary, baicalein probably inhibits the migration, invasion, and metastasis of ESCC cells via blocking the ERK/ELK-1/Snail signaling pathway.