Abstract: Objective To explore the molecular mechanism by which secreted frizzy-related protein 2 (SFRP2) inhibits proliferation and migration of human colorectal cancer cell line SW480. Methods The expression of SFRP2 was detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR in human normal colonic epithelial cells HCoEpiC and colorectal cancer cell line SW480. The shSERP2 SW480 cell strain was constructed. Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression of SFRP2, hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and Twist in shNC SW480 and shSFRP2 SW480 cells. After shSFRP2 SW480 cells were stimulated by HIF-1α inhibitor (IDF-11774), CCK-8 assay detected cell proliferation and Transwell detected cell migration and invasion. Results The expression level of SFRP2 in SW480 cells was lower than that in HCoEpiC cells (P＜0.01). After SFRP2 knockout, the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of SW480 cells were significantly improved (P＜0.001). The expression of HIF-1α and Twist in SW480 cells was increased (P＜0.01). After HIF-1α inhibitor (IDF-11774) treatment of shSFRP2 SW480 cells, compared with the untreated group, the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of shSFRP2 SW480 cells were significantly decreased (P＜0.001). Conclusions SFRP2 exerts certain anticancer effects through regulation of the HIF-1α/Twist signaling axis.

Key words: colorectal cancer, secreted frizzy-related protein 2(SFRP2), hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), Twist