In addition, β-catenin, the proliferation-related gene cyclin D1 and cancer stem cell marker Nanog were markedly reduced in HCC cells exposed to CM from NE-treated LX-2shRNA sFRP1 compared with those cultured with CM from NE-treated LX-2shRNA NC (Fig. 2f; Additional file 7: Fig. S5). Here, CCND1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.