• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.5-8
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• 1999

여성의 breast cancer의 1/3 의 경우가 hormone-dependent에 의한 것이다. 따라서 그 치료의 접근 방법으로써 estrogen receptor에 작용하거나, receptor-mediated gene trenscription을 저해하는 antiestrogen을 사용하는 것이 있다. Estrogen은 microsomal cytochrome P-450 enzyme complex system에 의해 androgen으로부터 생합성되는 hormone이며, estrogen product는 steroid product의 biosynthetic sequence의 마지막 단계에서 생산되고, aromatase는 이에 관여하는 enzyme으로써, aromatase를 선택적으로 저해하는 경우에 다른 steroid의 생산에 영향을 미치지 않고 estrogen 생산을 감소 시킬 수 있다. 이러한 관점에서, aromatase를 선택적으로 저해하는 것은 hormone-dependent breast cancer를 완화시킬 수 있는 가능성을 가진 cancer chernopreventive agents의 새로운 방법이라 할 수 있다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1827-1831
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• 2015

Background: We generated a mouse model of prostate cancer based on the adult-prostate-specific inactivation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) using the Cre-loxP system. The potential of our mice as a useful animal model was examined by evaluating the chemopreventive efficacy of the anti-androgen, chlormadinone acetate (CMA). Materials and Methods: Six-week-old mice were treated subcutaneously with $50{\mu}g/g$ of CMA three times a week for 9 or 14 weeks and sacrificed at weeks 15 and 20. Macroscopic change of the entire genitourinary tract (GUT) and histologically evident prostate gland tumor development were evaluated. Proliferation and apoptosis status in the prostate were examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: CMA triggered significant shrinkage of not only the GUT but also prostate glands at 15 weeks compared to the control (p=0.017 and p=0.010, respectively), and the trend became more marked after a further five-weeks of treatment. The onset of prostate adenocarcinoma was not prevented but the proliferation of cancer cells was inhibited by CMA, which suggested the androgen axis is critical for cancer growth in these mice. Conclusions: Conditional PTEN-deficient mice are useful as a preclinical model for chemoprevention studies and serve as a valuable tool for the future screening of potential chemopreventive agents.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1661-1665
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• 2004

Herba Patriniae(HP) has been known to exert anti-tumoral activity in Korea. However, its molecular mechanism, of action is not understood. In this study, we found that HP induced apoptosis in androgen-dependent prostate cancer DU145 cells as evidenced by DNA fragmentation and chromatine condensation in hoechst dye staining. Our data demonstrated that HP-induced apoptotic cell death was accompanied by activation of caspase-3 and cleavages of its substrates, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that HP induces the activation of caspase-3, degradation of PARP, and eventually leads to apoptotic cell death.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.259-265
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• 2002

Phthalate analogues are a plasticizer and solvent used in industry. Phthalates were reported to be a potential carcinogen classified in the category of suspected endocrine disruptors. Most common human exposure to these compounds may occur with contaminated food. They may migrate into food from plastic wrap or may enter food from general environmental contamination. Since these substances are not limited to the original products, and enter the environment, they have become widespread environmental pollutants, thus leading to a variety of phthalates that possibly threaten the public health. Concern about their use has been mounting. To screen and elucidate the endocrine disrupting activity and their mechanism of phthalate analogues, first of all, E-screen assay was performed in MCF7 human breast cancer cells with seven phthalate analogues. In this cell proliferation assay, only dibutyl phthalate (DBP) showed weak estrogenic activity. Also the yeast-based transcription assay to assess the interactions of DBP with the estrogen, androgen, and progesterone receptors was conducted. DBP in the concentration ranges from 10$^{-16}$ to 10$^{-11}$ M was active in the estrogen transcriptional assay, but it did not show the effect on $\beta$-galactosidase activity in the progesterone and androgen transcriptional assays. These data indicate that DBP shows estrogenic potential and can be classified as weak and/or suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.144-152
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• 2017

Background: The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is an important pathway of proteolysis in pathologic hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. We hypothesize that MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, might prevent hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (CMP) by blocking the UPS. Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and androgen receptor (AR) have been reported to be mediators of CMP and heart failure. This study drew upon pathophysiologic studies and the analysis of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AR to assess the cardioprotective effects of MG132 in a left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) rat model. Methods: We constructed a transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced LVH rat model with 3 groups: sham (TAC-sham, n=10), control (TAC-cont, n=10), and MG132 administration (TAC-MG132, n=10). MG-132 (0.1 mg/kg) was injected for 4 weeks in the TAC-MG132 group. Pathophysiologic evaluations were performed and the expression of AR and $NF-{\kappa}B$ was measured in the left ventricle. Results: Fibrosis was prevalent in the pathologic examination of the TAC-cont model, and it was reduced in the TAC-MG132 group, although not significantly. Less expression of AR, but not $NF-{\kappa}B$, was found in the TAC-MG132 group than in the TAC-cont group (p<0.05). Conclusion: MG-132 was found to suppress AR in the TAC-CMP model by blocking the UPS, which reduced fibrosis. However, $NF-{\kappa}B$ expression levels were not related to UPS function.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2015

Purpose: We analyzed outcomes of patients with prostate cancer undergoing either radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) +/- salvage radiation or definitive radiation therapy (RT) +/- androgen deprivation. Materials and Methods: From 2003-2010 there were 251 patients who underwent RRP and 469 patients who received RT (${\geq}7,560cGy$) for prostate cancer. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed with the log-rank test to compare biochemical control (bCR), distant metastatic-free survival (DMPFS), and prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) between the two groups. Results: The median follow-up was 70 months and 61.3% of the men were African American. For low risk disease the 6-year bCR were 90.3% for RT and 85.6% for RRP (p = 0.23) and the 6-year post-salvage bCR were 90.3% vs. 90.9%, respectively (p = 0.84). For intermediate risk disease the 6-year bCR were 82.6% for RT and 59.7% for RRP (p < 0.001) and 82.6% vs. 74.0%, respectively, after including those salvaged with RT (p = 0.06). For high risk disease, the 6-year bCR were 67.4% for RT and 41.3% for RRP (p < 0.001) and after including those salvaged with RT was 67.4% vs. 43.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in regards to DMPFS or PCSS. Conclusion: Treatment approaches utilizing RRP +/- salvage radiation or RT +/- androgen deprivation yielded equivalent DMPFS and PCSS outcomes. Biochemical control rates, using their respective definitions, appeared equivalent or better in those who received treatment with RT.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2013

Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate whether hwang-ryun-haedok-tang (HDT) affect proliferations of androgen-dependent LNCaP prostate cancer cells, androgen-independent PC-3, DU-145 prostate cancer cells, MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, A549, NCI-H292 human pulmonary cancer cells and K-562 human chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. Materials and Methods Effects of HDT on proliferations of each cancer cell line were investigated. 20,000 cells/well were plated in each well of 96-well culture plate. After 24 hrs, 0.01-10% of HDT in culture medium was added to cancer cells. The number of cells was counted by using SRB assay or direct cell counting method after 72 hours from drug treatment. Effect of baicalein or berebrine on proliferation was assessed according to the same method. Results (1) HDT inhibited proliferations of LNCaP, PC-3 and DU-145 prostate cancer cells. (2) HDT inhibited proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. (3) HDT also inhibited proliferations of A549, NCI-H292 pulmonary cancer cells and K-562 chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. (4) Baicalein and berberine also showed inhibitory effects on proliferations of prostate and breast cancer cells. Conclusion : HDT inhibited proliferations of human prostate, breast, pulmonary and blood cancer cells. These results suggest us the potential use of HDT as a chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agent. Effect of HDT on human cancer should be further investigated using in vivo experimental models that can reflect pathophysiology of human cancer through another studies.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.106-112
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• 2013

Objective : Several reports have found abnormal levels of androgen in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. This abnormality in androgen is hypothesized to due to chronic psychological stress effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) system. The present study was conducted to estimate serum testosterone levels in PTSD patients in comparison with normal subjects. Methods : Seventy-five male Korean veterans of the Vietnam War volunteered for the study, of which eleven were excluded because of incomplete psychological assessment. To measure basal serum testosterone, blood samples were collected between 8.00 and 9.30 a.m. The clinician administered PTSD scale (CAPS), the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV (SCID), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (Korean version of MINI-Plus), CES-K (Korean version of combat exposure scale). Results : The serum testosterone level of PTSD patients ($5.4{\pm}2.5ng/mL$) was higher than that of a control group ($3.1{\pm}1.7ng/mL$, p<0.001). Testosterone levels were significantly correlated with CAPS (r=.38, p<.01), HAM-A (r=.35, p<.01) and HAM-D (r=.28, p<.01) in all subjects. Conclusion : The results of the present study suggest that chronic psychological stress affects the HPG system.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.331-339
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• 2002

Phenoxy compounds, 2,4-Dichlorophenol acetoxy acid (2,4-D) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP), are widely used as a hormonal herbicide and intermediate for pesticide manufacturing, respectively. In order to assess the potential of these compounds as endocrine disruptors, we studied the androgenicity of them wing in vivo and in vitro androgenicity assay system. Administration of 2,4-D (50 mg/kg/day, p.o.) or DCP (100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) to rats caused an increase in the tissue weight of ventral prostate, Cowpers gland and glands penis. These increase of androgen-dependent tissues were additively potentiated when rats were simultaneously treated with low dose of testosterone (1 g/kg, s.c.). 2,4-D increased about 350% of the luciferase activity in the PC cells transiently cotransfected phAR and pMMTV-Luc at concentration of $10^{-9}$ M. In 2,4-D or DCP-treated castrated rats, testosterone 6$\beta$-hydroxylase activity was not significantly modulated even when rats were co-treated with testosterone. In vitro incubation of 2,4-D and DCP with microsomes at 50 $\mu$M inhibited testosterone 6$\beta$-hydroxylase activity about 27% and 66% in rat liver microsomes, about 44% and 54% in human liver microsomes and about 50% and 45% in recombinant CYP3A4 system, respectively. The amounts of total testosterone metabolites were reduced about 33% and 75% in rat liver microsomes, 69% and 73% in human liver microsomes and 54% and 64% in recombinant CYP3A4 by 2,4-D or DCP, respectively. Therefore, the additive androgenic effect of 2,4-D or DCP by the co-administration of the low dose of testosterone may be due to the increased plasma level of testosterone by inhibiting the cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of testosterone. These results collectively suggested that 2,4-D and DCP may act as androgenic endocrine disrupter by binding to the androgen receptor as well as by inhibiting the metabolism of testosterone.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4949-4954
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• 2015

The present study was planned to investigate the role of sex hormone receptor gene expression in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Adult male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups. Group (1) was negative control. Groups (2), (5), (6), and (7) were orally administered with N-nitrosodiethylamine for the induction of HCC, then group (2) was left untreated, group (5) was orally treated with curcumin, group (6) was orally treated with carvacrol, and group (7) was intraperitoneally injected with doxorubicin, whereas groups (3) and (4) were orally administered only curcumin and carvacrol, respectively. The HCC group showed significant upregulation in the androgen receptor (AR) and the estrogen receptor-alpha ($ER{\alpha}$) gene expression levels in the liver tissue. On the contrary, HCC groups treated with either curcumin or carvacrol showed significant downregulation in AR and $ER{\alpha}$ gene expression levels in the liver tissue. In conclusion, the obtained data highlight that both AR and $ER{\alpha}$ but not estrogen receptor-beta ($ER{\beta}$) gene expression may contribute to the male prevalence of HCC induced in male rats. Interestingly, both curcumin and carvacrol were found to have a promising potency in alleviating the male predominating HCC.