AIM: To investigate whether the regulation of aquaporin 3(AQP3) and AQP9 induced by Auphen and dibutyryl c AMP(dbc AMP) inhibits hepatic tumorigenesis. METHODS: Expression of AQP3 and AQP9 was detected by Western blot, immunohistochemistry(IHC), and RT-PCR in HCC samples and paired non-cancerous liver tissue samples from 30 hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients. A xenograft tumor model was used in vivo. Nine nude mice were divided into control, Auphen-treated, and dbc AMP-treated groups(n = 3 for each group). AQP3 and AQP9 protein expression after induction of xenograft tumors was detected by IHC and m RNA by RT-PCR analysis. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d UTP nick end labeling assay and histological evaluation were used to detect apoptosis of tumor cells, and the concentration of serum α-fetoprotein(AFP) was measured using RTPCR and an ELISA kit.RESULTS: The volumes and weights of tumors decreased significantly in the Auphen- and dbc AMP-treated mice compared with the control mice(P < 0.01). The levels of AQP3 were significantly lower in the Auphen treatment group, and levels of AQP9 were significantly higher in thedbc AMP treatment mice than in the control mice(P < 0.01). The reduction of AQP3 by Auphen and increase of AQP9 by dbc AMP in nude mice suppressed tumor growth of HCC, which resulted in reduced AFP levels in serum and tissues, and apoptosis of tumor cells in the Auphen- and dbc AMP-treated mice, when compared with control mice(P < 0.01). Compared with para-carcinoma tissues, AQP3 expression increased in tumor tissues whereas the expression of AQP9 decreased. By correlating clinicopathological and expression levels, we demonstrated that the expression of AQP3 and AQP9 was correlated with clinical progression of HCC and disease outcomes. CONCLUSION: AQP3 increases in HCC while AQP9 decreases. Regulation of AQP3 and AQP9 expression by Auphen and dbc AMP inhibits the development and growth of HCC. AIM: To investigate whether the regulation of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) and AQP9 induced by Auphen and dibutyryl c AMP (dbc AMP) inhibits hepatic tumorigenesis. METHODS: Expression of AQP3 and AQP9 was detected by Western blot, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and RT A nude mice were divided into control, Auphen-treated, and dbc AMP-treated groups (HCC) patients were injected into HCC samples and paired non-cancerous liver tissue samples from 30 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients AQP3 and AQP9 protein expression after induction of xenograft tumors was detected by IHC and m RNA by RT-PCR analysis. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated d UTP nick end labeling assay and histological evaluation were used to detect apoptosis of tumor cells, and the concentration of serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) was measured using RTPCR and an ELISA kit .RESULTS: The volumes and weights of tumors decreased significantly in the Auphen- and dbc AMP-treated mice compared w The levels of AQP3 were significantly lower in the Auphen treatment group, and levels of AQP9 were significantly higher in the dbc AMP treatment mice than in the control mice (P <0.01). The reduction of AQP3 by Auphen and increase of AQP9 by dbc AMP in nude mice suppressed tumor growth of HCC, which resulted in reduced AFP levels in serum and tissues, and apoptosis of tumor cells in the Auphen- and dbc AMP-treated mice, when compared with control mice (P <0.01). Compared to para-carcinoma tissues, AQP3 expression increased in the tumor tissues and the expression of AQP9 decreased. By correlating clinicopathological and expression levels, we demonstrated that the expression of AQP3 and AQP9 was correlated with clinical progression of HCC and disease outcomes. CONCLUSION: AQP3 increases in HCC while AQP9 decreases. Regulation of AQP3 and AQP9 expression by Auphen and dbc AMP inhibits the development and growth of HCC.