OBJECTIVE: To probe into the effects of icariin on proliferation

migration

apoptosis and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten（ PTEN）/protein kinase B（ AKT） pathway of renal cancer OS-RC-2 cells. METHODS: OS-RC-2 cell group

cisplatin group（ 40 μg/ml）

icariin groups with different concentrations（ 20 μg/ml

40 μg/ml） were set up. After 72 h of culture

the survival rate

migration ability

apoptosis rate

and the mRNA and protein expression levels of PTEN and AKT were measured in each group of renal cancer OS-RC-2 cells. RESULTS: Compared with the OS-RC-2 cell group

the cell survival rate

migration distance

the mRNA and protein expression levels of PTEN and AKT decreased

and the apoptotic rate increased in the cisplatin group

icariin low-concentration group and icariin high-concentration group

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 05）.Compared with the cisplatin group

the cell survival rate

migration distance

the mRNA and protein expression levels of PTEN and AKT increased and the apoptotic rate decreased in the icariin low-concentration group; the cell survival rate

migration distance

the mRNA and protein expression levels of PTEN and AKT decreased and the apoptotic rate increased in the icariin high-concentration group

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 05）. Compared with the icariin low-concentration group

the cell survival rate

migration distance

the mRNA and protein expression levels of PTEN and AKT decreased and the apoptotic rate increased in the icariin high-concentration group

with statistically significant differences（ P < 0. 05）. CONCLUSIONS: Icariin can inhibit the proliferation and migration of renal cancer OS-RC-2 cells

and promote the apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to the reduction of the mRNA and protein expression levels of PTEN and AKT in renal cancer OS-RC-2 cells by icariin

which in turn inhibits the activation of PTEN/AKT pathway.