• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2307-2312
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• 2015

Curcumol is a sesquiterpene originally isolated from curcuma rhizomes, a component of herbal remedies commonly used in oriental medicine. Its beneficial pharmacological activities have attract significant interest recently. In this study, anti-cancer activity of curcumol was examined with both in vitro and in vivo models. It was found that curcumol exhibited time- and concentration-dependent anti-proliferative effects in SPC-A-1 human lung adenocarcinoma cells with cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase while apoptosis-induction was also confirmed with flow cytometry and morphological analyses. Interestingly, curcumol did not display growth inhibition in MRC-5 human embryonic lung fibroblasts, suggesting the anti-proliferative effects of curcumol were specific to cancer cells. Anti-neoplastic effects of curcumol were also confirmed in tumor bearing mice. Curcumol (60 mg/ kg daily) significantly reduced tumor size without causing notable toxicity. In conclusion, curcumol appears a favorable anti-cancer candidate for further development.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.44-59
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• 2000

Naetakcheonkeumsan(NCS) was a drug that treated carbuncle and cellulitis. So, the purpose of this Study was to investigate effect of NCS on the anti-cancer and proliferation of lymphocytes in normal mouse group, L1210 cells-transplanted mouse group and anti-cancer drug (vincristine) 0.005mg/kg were injected mouse(Ll210 cells-transplanted) group. We used NCS extract with freeze-dried, 8wks-old male mice, and Ll210 cell lines for this Study, The proliferation of cells was tested using a colorimetric tetrazoliun assay(MTT assay). The results of this Study were obtained as follow ; Group C(NCS plus Rehmanniae Radix Preparat administered group) inhibited proliferaion of lymphocytes in normal mouse group and Ll210 cells transplanted mouse group. Group A(NCS administered group) and Group B(NCS plus Cervi pantotrichum Cornu administered group) inhibited proliferation of Ll210 cells in Ll210 cells-transplanted mouse group and anti-cancer drug were injected mouse(Ll210 cells-transplanted) group. Group C incresed proliferation of L1210 cells in L1210 cells-transplanted mouse group, but inhibited in anti-cancer drug(vincristine) 0.005mg/kg were injected mouse(L1210 cells-transplanted) group.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3345-3349
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• 2013

Hsp90 shows great promise as a therapeutic target due to its potential to disable multiple signaling pathways simultaneously. In this study, we discovered that a natural product, butein moderately inhibited the growth of drug-resistant cancer cells (A2780cis and H1975), and brought about the degradation of oncogenic Hsp90 client proteins. The study demonstrated that butein would be a therapeutic lead to circumvent drug-resistance in cancer chemotherapy. The structure-based screening, synthesis, and biological evaluation of butein are described herein.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.299-309
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• 2016

We have previously reported the role of miR-217 in anti-cancer drug-resistance. miRNA array and miRNA hybridization analysis predicted miR-30a-3p as a target of miR-217. miR-30a-3p and miR-217 formed a negative feedback loop and regulated the expression of each other. Ago1 immunoprecipitation and co-localization analysis revealed a possible interaction between miR-30a-3p and miR-217. miR-30a-3p conferred resistance to anti-cancer drugs and enhanced the invasion, migration, angiogenic, tumorigenic, and metastatic potential of cancer cells in CAGE-dependent manner. CAGE increased the expression of miR-30a-3p by binding to the promoter sequences of miR-30a-3p, suggesting a positive feedback loop between CAGE and miR-30a-3p. miR-30a-3p decreased the expression of p53, which showed the binding to the promoter sequences of miR-30a-3p and CAGE in anti-cancer drug-sensitive cancer cells. Luciferase activity assays showed that p53 serves as a target of miR-30a. Thus, the miR-30a-3p-CAGE-p53 feedback loop serves as a target for overcoming resistance to anti-cancer drugs.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Reports
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2020

Metformin is a widely used first-line anti-diabetic drug worldwide. Epidemiologic studies using the large population-based cohort database have shown the association between metformin uses and reduced risk of various type cancers including gastric cancer. In the gastric cancer prevention, metformin use was associated with the significant reduction of gastric cancer risk, especially for long-term metformin users. However, there is no well-designed randomized controlled clinical trial investigating the effect of metformin as a chemopreventive drug for gastric cancer. Therefore, further well-designed clinical trials will be needed to implement metformin for chemoprevention of gastric cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.54-65
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• 2017

Although cancer/testis antigen DDX53 confers anti-cancer drug-resistance, the effect of DDX53 on cancer stem cell-like properties and autophagy remains unknown. MDA-MB-231 ($CD133^+$) cells showed higher expression of DDX53, SOX-2, NANOG and MDR1 than MDA-MB-231 ($CD133^-$). DDX53 increased in vitro self-renewal activity of MCF-7 while decreasing expression of DDX53 by siRNA lowered in vitro self-renewal activity of MDA-MB-231. DDX53 showed an interaction with EGFR and binding to the promoter sequences of EGFR. DDX53 induced resistance to anti-cancer drugs in MCF-7 cells while decreased expression of DDX53 by siRNA increased the sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 to anti-cancer drugs. Negative regulators of DDX53, such as miR-200b and miR-217, increased the sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 to anti-cancer drugs. MDA-MB-231 showed higher expression of autophagy marker proteins such as ATG-5, $pBeclin1^{Ser15}$ and LC-3I/II compared with MCF-7. DDX53 regulated the expression of marker proteins of autophagy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. miR-200b and miR-217 negatively regulated the expression of autophagy marker proteins. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed the direct regulation of ATG-5. The decreased expression of ATG-5 by siRNA increased the sensitivity to anti-cancer drugs in MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, DDX53 promotes stem cell-like properties, autophagy, and confers resistance to anti-cancer drugs in breast cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.439-446
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• 2013

Chitosan (CS) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) blend microspheres were prepared by water-in-oil emulsion technique and were loaded with an anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). CS-HPMC microspheres were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to confirm the cross-linking reaction. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to assess the surface morphology of particles prepared. The quantity of release of 5-FU from the microspheres have been studied in terms of blend composition and amount of cross-linking agent. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction techniques indicated a uniform distribution of 5-FU particles in microspheres, whereas SEM suggested the spherical structure of the microspheres with slight rough surface. The in vitro drug release indicated that the particle size and release kinetics depend upon blend composition, amount of cross-linking agent used and amount of 5-FU present in the microspheres.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1097-1104
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• 2012

Background/Aim: Pristimerin isolated from Celastrus and Maytenus spp can inhibit proteasome activity. However, whether pristimerin can modulate cancer metastasis is unknown. Methods: The impacts of pristimerin on the purified and intracellular chymotrypsin proteasomal activity, the levels of regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS 4) expression and breast cancer cell lamellipodia formation, and the migration and invasion were determined by enzymatic, Western blot, immunofluorescent, and transwell assays, respectively. Results: We found that pristimerin inhibited human chymotrypsin proteasomal activity in MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Pristimerin also inhibited breast cancer cell lamellipodia formation, migration, and invasion in vitro by up-regulating RGS4 expression. Thus, knockdown of RGS4 attenuated pristimerin-mediated inhibition of breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, pristimerin inhibited growth and invasion of implanted breast tumors in mice. Conclusion: Pristmerin inhibits proteasomal activity and increases the levels of RGS4, inhibiting the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.322-330
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• 2017

This study investigated the role of cancer/testis antigen DDX53 in regulating cancer stem cell-like properties. DDX53 shows co-expression with CD133, a marker for cancer stem cells. DDX53 directly regulates the SOX-2 expression in anti-cancer drug-resistant $Malme3M^R$ cells. DDX53 and miR-200b were found to be involved in the regulation of tumor spheroid forming potential of Malme3M and $Malme3M^R$ cells. Furthermore, the self-renewal activity and the tumorigenic potential of $Malme3M^R$-CD133 (+) cells were also regulated by DDX53. A miR-200b inhibitor induced the direct regulation of SOX-2 by DDX53 We therefore, conclude that DDX53 may serve as an immunotherapeutic target for regulating cancer stem-like properties of melanomas.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2014

An investigation was carried out to identify novel anti-cancer compounds from Korean indigenous plant extracts. Bioassay-guided fractionation and chemical investigation of the EtOAc extract from the leaves and stems of Stauntonia hexaphylla resulted in the isolation of two active compounds, hederagenin 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-arabinoside (1) and quercetin (2). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, MS, NMR techniques and compared with previous spectroscopic data. The cytotoxic effects of fractions and compounds on HCT116 human colon cancer cells were evaluated using the MTT assay. Quercetin showed a stronger anti-cancer effect when compared to hederagenin 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-arabinoside.