AIM:To investigate the effects of icarⅡn on the viability, migration and invasion of the prostate cancer lines Du145 and PC3.METHODS:Du145 cells and PC3 cells were treated with icarⅡn at different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 or 80 μmol/L), and the cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.The cell migration and invasion abilities were detected by Transwell assay.The protein expression of Notch-1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and hairy/enhancer of split-1 (Hes-1) was determined by Western blot.RESULTS:The results of MTT assay revealed that icarⅡn inhibited the viabilitiy of Du145 cells and PC3 cells in a dose-dependent manner.The maximal effect was at dose of 40 μmol/L.IcarⅡn treatment significantly decreased the abilities of migration and invasion of Du145 cells and PC-3 cells.Moreover, the protein expression of Notch-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Hes-1 was dramatically reduced after icarⅡn treatment.CONCLUSION:IcarⅡn inhibits prostate cancer cell viability, migration and invasion by decreasing the protein expression of Notch-1, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Hes-1.