• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1130-1136
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• 2017

Traditionally, the larvae of Allomyrina dichotoma (AD), a species of the rhinoceros beetle, have been widely used for their antidiabetic, antihepatofibrotic, antineoplastic, and antiobesity effects. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization has reported on the possibility of using edible insects in human dietary supplements in the future. However, despite the growing interest in insect-based bio-active products, the biological activities of these products have rarely been studied. Previously, we reported that AD larvae inhibit the in vitro differentiation of adipocytes via transcription factor downregulation. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the effects of a hot-water extract of AD larvae on allergy and inflammation. To investigate the inhibitory effect of the extract on allergic reactions, we measured the levels of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) after activation of RBL-2H3 cells using Compound 48/80. In addition, the inhibitory effect of the extract on inflammation was determined using Raw 264.7 cells after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. The extract significantly inhibited the ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, and COX-2 levels in RBL-2H3 cells. Furthermore, it effectively inhibited the inflammatory cytokine IL-6, nitric oxide, and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. These results suggest that AD larval extract can be potentially developed as an antiallergic and anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.2081-2086
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• 2015

Gecko is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine with remarkable antineoplastic activity. However, undefined mechanisms and ambiguity regarding active ingredients limit new drug development from gecko. This study was conducted to assess anti-angiogenic properties of the aqueous extracts of fresh gecko (AG) or macromolecular components separated from AG (M-AG). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) approach was applied to detect the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion of the tumor cells treated with AG or M-AG. The effect of AG or M-AG on vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migratory ability was analyzed by tetrazolium dye colorimetric method, transwell and wound-healing assays. Chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays were used to ensure the anti-angiogenic activity of M-AG in vivo. The results showed that AG or M-AG inhibited the VEGF secretion of tumor cells, the relative inhibition rates of AG and M-AG being 27.2% and 53.2% respectively at a concentration of $20{\mu}L/mL$. AG and M-AG inhibited the vascular endothelial (VE) cell proliferation with IC50 values of $11.5{\pm}0.5{\mu}L/mL$ and $12.9{\pm}0.4{\mu}L/mL$ respectively. The VE cell migration potential was inhibited significantly (p<0.01) by the AG (${\geq}24{\mu}L/mL$) or M-AG (${\geq}12\mu}L/mL$) treatment. In vivo, neovascularization of CAM treated with M-AG was inhibited significantly (p<0.05) at a concentration of ${\geq}0.4{\mu}L/mL$. This study provided evidence that anti-angiogenesis is one of the anti-tumor mechanisms of AG and M-AG, with the latter as a promising active component.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.403-411
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• 2009

Thiacremonone, the main component isolated from heated garlic (Allium sativum L.), is interested for using as a cancer preventive or therapeutic agent since garlic has been known to be useful plant in the treatment of cancers. Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$) is constitutively activated in the prostate cancer and activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ is implicated in drug resistance in cancer cells. Docetaxel, a semisynthetic analog of paclitaxel, is an antineoplastic drug widely used for advanced various cancer. In previous studies, we found that thiacremonone inhibited activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in cancer cells and marcrophages. In the present study, we investigated whether thiacremonone could increase susceptibility of prostate cancer cells (PC-3 and DU145) to docetaxel via inactivation of NF-${\kappa}B$. We found that the combination treatment of thiacremonone (50 ${\mu}g$/ml) with docetaxel (5 nM) was more effective in the inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth and induction of apoptosis accompanied with the significant inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activity than those by the treatment of thiacremonone or docetaxel alone. It was also found that NF-${\kappa}B$ target gene expression of Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 was much more significantly enhanced, but the expression of Bcl-2 was also much more significantly inhibited by the combination treatment. These results indicate that thiacremonone inhibits NF-${\kappa}B$, and enhances the susceptibility of prostate cancer cells to docetaxel. Thus, thiacremonone could be useful as an adjuvant anti-cancer agent.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.202-213
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• 2004

Object : Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Mylabris phalerata (반모) in some kinds of cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Some kinds of cancer cells lines were treated. We used nine kinds of cancer cell lines, such as stomach cancer cells (Kato), lung cancer cells (Calu-1, NCI-H 1395), urinary bladder cancer cells (HS789T), bone cancer cells (Saos-2), brain cancer cells (SK-N-MC), liver cancer cells (Hep-G2), skin cancer cells (Mo-1) and prostate cancer cells (PC-3) with the water decoction of Mylabris phalerata. The histological changes of all cell lines in the media (RPMI-1640) containing the decoction of Mylabris phalerata were observed and we examined cell death assay by trypan blue exclusion testing was examined. Finally, the change of mitochondrial membrane potential was measurd and the inhibitory effect of Mylabris phalerata on cell increase was examined by analyzing the cell cycle. Results: In histologic change all cancer cell lines showed withdrawn and floating appearance that is typical in cellular impairment. Most of the cell lines showed over 50% death rate after 24 hours in trypan blue exclusion tests. Especially the stomach, urinary bladder. brain and liver cell lines showed over 30% death rate after 12 hours. All cell lines treated with Mylabris phalerata were less stained than the control group and the mitochondrial membrane potential in the Mylabris phalerata treated cell lines was markedly lower than that in the control group. The measurement of DNA quantity in all cell lines showed the disappearance of the peak and the thickened left axis, which suggests that all cellular DNA degraded. Conclusion: Mylabris phalerata had cytotoxicity on various kinds of cancer cell lines and the mechanism of that was the impairment of mitochondria by the breakdown of the mitochondrial cell membrane. We propose that this is in part attributable to the destruction of DNA in cancer cells.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.231-238
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• 2005

Anti-cancer drugs have been shown to target diverse cellular functions in mediation cell death in chemosensitive tumors. Most antineoplastic drugs used in chemotherapy of leukemias and solid tumors induce apoptosis in drug-sensitive target cells. However, the precise molecular requirements that are central for drug-induced cell death are largely unknown. Etoposide is used for the treatment of lung and testicular cancer. This study was performed to examine whether etoposide promote apoptosis in human oral squamous carcinoma cells (OSC9) as well as in lung and testicular cancer. Etoposide had a significant dose- and time-dependent inhibitory effect on the viability of OSC9 cells. TUNEL assay showed the positive reaction on condensed nuclei. Hoechst stain demonstrated that etoposide induced a change in nuclear morphology. The expression of p53 was increased at 48 hour, suggesting that the nuclear of OSC9 cell was damaged, thereby inducing apoptosis. Etoposide treatment induced caspase-3 cleavage and activation. Intact PARP protein 116-kDa and 85-kDa cleaved product were observed. The activated caspase-3 led cleavage of the PARP. These results demonstrate that etoposide-induced apoptosis in OSC9 cells is associated with caspase-3 activation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.427-436
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• 2021

Background: Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies have been used to treat patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). However, the effect of therapies in cancer patients has yet to be investigated comprehensively. We hypothesized that cyclic thermal therapy would improve blood flow and microcirculation and improve the symptoms driven by CIPN. Methods: The criteria of assessment were blood volume in region of interest (ROI) in the images, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20 questionnaire scores. The blood volume was quantified by using red blood cell (RBC) scintigraphy. All patients were treated 10 times during 10 days. The thermal stimulations, between 15° and 41°, were repeatedly delivered to the patient's hands. Results: The total score of the questionnaires, the score of questions related to the upper limbs, the score of questions closely related to the upper limbs, and the score excluding the upper limbs questions was decreased. The blood volume was decreased, and the variance of blood volume was decreased. During cooling stimulation, the blood volume was decreased, and its variance was decreased. During warming stimulation, the blood volume was decreased, and its variance was decreased. Conclusions: We suggest that cyclic thermal therapy is useful to alleviate CIPN symptoms by blood circulation improvement. RBC scintigraphy can provide the quantitative information on blood volume under certain conditions such as stress, as well as rest, in peripheral tissue.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.561-571
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• 2010

Colon cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the western world and the second leading cause of cancer death in Korea. Epidemiology studies have shown a reduced incidence of colon cancer among populations consuming a large quantity of ${\omega}3$-polyunsaturated fatty acids (${\omega}3$-PUFA) of marine origin. Recently, it has been found that ${\omega}3$-PUFA has an antineoplastic effect in several cancers. This study was designed to investigate the mechanism of the anti-invasive effect of ${\omega}3$-PUFA in colon cancer. ${\omega}3$-PUFA, docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) treatment resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth in SW480 human colon cancer cells. In contrast, arachidonic acid (AA), a ${\omega}6$-PUFA, exhibited no significant effect. This action likely involves apoptosis, given that DHA treatment increased apoptotic cells in TUNEL assay. Moreover, invasiveness of SW480 cells was inhibited following treatment of DHA in a dose-dependent manner; in contrast, AA had no effect. The levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 mRNA decreased after DHA pretreatment. MMP-9 and MMP-2 promoter activities were also inhibited by DHA treatment. The levels of NF-kB and p-IkB protein were down-regulated by DHA pretreatment in a dose dependent manner. In addition, DHA inhibited NF-kB promoter reporter activities. These findings suggest that ${\omega}3$-PUFA may inhibit cancer cell invasion by inhibition of MMPs via reduction of NF-kB in colon cancer. In conclusion, ${\omega}3$-PUFA could be used for chemoprevention and treatment of human colon cancer.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2010

Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known anticonvulsive agent and has been used in the treatment of epilepsy for almost 30 years. VPA emerged in 1997 as an antineoplastic agent as well, when findings indicated the substance inhibited proliferation and induced differentiation of primitive neuroectocdermal tumor cells in vivo (Cinatl et al., 1997). Antitmor activity of VPA is associated with its targeting histone deacetylases. Bile acids and their synthetic derivatives induced apoptosis in various kinds of cancer cells and anticancer effects. It has been reported that the synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) derivatives showed apoptosis-inducing activity on various cancer cells in vitro. This study was undertaken to investigate the synergistic apoptotic effect of co-treatment with the histone deacetylases inhibitor, VPA and a CDCA derivative, HS-1200 on human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells. Cell viability was evaluated by trypan-blue exclusion. Induction and augmentation of apoptosis were confirmed by Hoechst staining, flow cytometry (DNA hypoploidy and MMP change), Westen blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining. In this study, HOS cells co-treated with VPA and HS-1200 showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation such as nuclear condensations, the reduction of MMP, the decrease of DNA content, the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, the translocation of AIF onto nuclei, and activation of caspase-7, caspase-3 and PARP whereas each single treated HOS cells did not. Although the single treatment of 1 mM VPA or $25\;{\mu}M$ HS-1200 for 48 h did not induce apoptosis, the co-treatment of them induced prominently apoptosis. Therefore our data provide the possibility that combination therapy of VPA and HS-1200 could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human osteosarcoma.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2011

Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known anticonvulsive agent and has been used in the treatment of epilepsy for almost 30 years. VPA emerged in 1997 as an antineoplastic agent. And it is known that antitmor activity of VPA is associated with its targeted at histone deacetylases. 17AAG, Inhibition of HSP90 leads to the proteasome degradation of the HSP90 client proteins, such as Akt, Raf/Ras, Erk, VEGF, cyclin D and p53, and causes potent antitumor activity. It is reported that 17AAG-induced HSP90 inhibition results in prevention of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in several types of cancer. This study was undertaken to investigate the synergistic apoptotic effect of co-treatment with the histone deacetylases inhibitor, VPA and the HSP90 inhibitor, 17AAG on human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells. Cell viability was evaluated by trypan-blue exclusion. Induction and augmentation of apoptosis were confirmed by Hoechst staining, flow cytometry (DNA hypoploidy and MMP change), Westen blot analysis and immunofluorescent staining. In this study, HOS cells co-treated with VPA and 17AAG showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation such as nuclear condensations, the reduction of MMP, the decrease of DNA content, the release of cytochrome c into cytosol, the translocation of AIF onto nuclei, and activation of caspase-3, caspase-7 and PARP whereas each single treated HOS cells did not. Although the single treatment of 1 mM VPA or 0.5 ${\mu}M$ 17AAG for 48 h did not induce apoptosis, the co-treatment with them induced prominently apoptosis. Therefore our data in this study provide the possibility that combination therapy with VPA and 17AAG could be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for human osteosarcoma.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2002

Purpose : Taxol(Paclitaxel), an antineoplastic agent, has been used in the treatment of ovarian and breast cancers. The determination of optimal Taxol concentrations in human serum was required for enhancing therapeutic effect and maintaining the appropriate Taxol level in blood. This study was aimed to synthesizeradiolabeled Taxol derivatives as radiotracer in competitive radioimmunoassay for monitoring Taxol concentrations in blood and to determine the usefulness of its derivatives. Materials and Methods : Hemisucdcinyltaxol(HT) was synthesized by esterification of Taxol with succinic anhydride. Tyraminehemisuccinyltaxol(THT) was synthesized by coupling of HT with tyramine using isobutylchlormate as coupling agent and purified by HPLC. By using chloramine-T($5.25mg/ml,\;10{\mu}{\ell}$) as oxidant agent, THT($4mg/ml,\;30{\mu}{\ell}$) was labeled wity $^{125}I\;(37MBq,\;1mCi)$. To estimate the stability of purified THT, $^{125}I-iodotyraminehemisuccinyltaxol(^125}ITHT)$ was dissolved in 80% acetonitrile aqueous solution, and the solution was incubated at $4^{\circ}C\;and\;37^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. At various time intervals, the stability of THT and $^{125}ITHT$ was monitored. The titer of Taxol monoclonal antibody, 3G5A7, was determined by competitive radioimmunoassay using $^{125}ITHT$ as a labeled antigen. A standard dose-response curve was demonstated by Taxol competitive radioimmunoassay. Resulls : HT and THT were synthesized with 79.9% and 19.5% yield, respectively. The labeling yield of $^{125}ITHT$ was 93%. After 7 days, the chemical purity of THT was 96.5% at $4^{\circ}C$, and 97.5% at $37^{\circ}C$. After 3 days, $^{125}ITHT$ was stable with 94.7% at $4^{\circ}C$ and 93.4% at $37^{\circ}C$. After 7 days, fadiochemical purity was diminished to 88.1% at $37^{\circ}C$. The titer of Taxol monoclonal antibody, 3G5A7, was determined to 1:256. A standard dose-response curve demonstated good collinearity ($R^2=0.971$) as Taxol concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion : Competitive radioimmunoassay using $^{125}I-iodotyraminehemisuccinytaxol$ as radiotracer could be used to monitor for concentration of Taxol in the human serum.