• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4965-4969
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• 2015

LCN2 (Lipocalin 2) is a 25 KD secreted acute phase protein, reported to be a novel regulator of angiogenesis in breast cancer. Up regulation of LCN2 had been observed in multiple cancers including breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer. However, the role of LCN2 promoter methylation in the formation of microvessels is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of LCN 2 promoter methylation with microvessel formation and tumor cell proliferation in breast cancer patients. The LCN2 promoter methylation status was studied in 64 breast cancer tumors by methylation specific PCR (MSP). Evaluation of microvessel density (MVD) and Ki67 cell proliferation index was achieved by immunohistochemical staining using CD34 and MIB-1 antibodies, respectively. LCN2 promoter unmethylation status was observed in 43 (67.2%) of breast cancer patients whereas LCN2 methylation status was seen in 21 (32.8%). Further, LCN2 promoter unmethylation status was associated with aggressive tumor phenotype and elevated mean MVD in breast cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5977-5981
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• 2015

Background: Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women and a leading cause of cancer deaths. The age of onset in Iran has become reduced by a decade for unknown reasons. Herceptin, a humanized monoclonal antibody, is a target therapy for breast cancer cells with over expression of HER2-neu receptors, but it is an expensive drug with only 20% beneficial rate of survival. This study introduces a novel approach to enhance the efficacy of this drug through immunoconjugation of the antibody to botulinum toxin. Decreasing the cost and adverse effects of the antibody were secondary goals of this study. Materials and Methods: Botulinum toxin was conjugated with Herceptin using heterobifunctional cross linkers, succinimidyl acetylthiopropionate (SATP) and sulfo-succinimidyl-4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (SMCC) according to the supplier's guidelines and tested on two breast cancer cell lines: SK-BR-3 and BT-474. Toxin and Herceptin were also used separately as controls. The cytotoxicity assay was also performed using the new bioconjugate on cultured cells with Alamar blue and a fluorescence plate reader. Results: Herceptin-Toxin bioconjugation significantly improved Herceptin efficacy on both breast cancer cell lines when compared to the control group. Conclusions: Toxin-Herceptin bioconjugation can be a potential candidate with increased efficiency for treating breast cancer patients with over expression of the HER2 receptor.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8445-8450
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm in women and the most frequent cause of death in those between 35 and 55 years of age. All multicellular organisms have an innate immune system, whereas the adaptive or 'acquired' immune system is restricted to vertebrates. This study focused on the effect of conditioned medium isolated from cultured breast cancer cells on NB4 neutrophil-like cells. Materials and Methods: In the current study neutrophil-like NB4 cells were incubated with MCF-7 cell-conditioned medium. After 6 h incubation the intracellular receptor TLR2, was analyzed. Results: The results revealed that MCF-7 cell-conditioned medium elicited expression of TLR2 in NB4 cells. Conclusions: This treatment would result in the production of particular stimulants (i.e. soluble cytokines), eliciting the expression of immune system receptors. Furthermore, the flow cytometry results demonstrated that MCF-7 cell-conditioned medium elicited an effect on TLR2 intracellular receptors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6233-6237
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• 2012

Survivin, a new member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, both inhibits apoptosis and regulates the cell cycle. It is overexpressed in breast tumor tissues. In this study, we designed two survivin specific DNAzymes (DRz1 and DRz2) targeting survivin mRNA. The results showed that DRz1 could decrease the expression of survivin by nearly 60%. Furthermore, DRz1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and inhibited migration in MCF-7 cells. In addition, down-regulation of survivin expression was associated with increased caspase-3 and -9 activities in MCF-7 cells after 24 h transfection. In our experiments, the efficacy of DRz1 to influence survivin levels and associated effects were better than DRz2. Survivin-DRz1 might have anti-tumorigenic activity and may potentially provide the basis for a novel therapeutic intervention in breast cancer treatment.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.640-645
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• 2004

Histone deacetylase inhibitors are new class of chemotherapeutic drugs able to induce tumor cell apoptosis and／or cell cycle arrest. Trichostatin A, an antifungal antibiotic, and HC-toxin are potent and specific inhibitors of histone deacetylase activity. In this study, we have examined the antiproliferative activities of trichostatin A and HC-toxin in estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer, T47D cells. Both trichostatin A and HC-toxin showed potent antiprolifer-ative efficacy and cell cycle arrest at $G_2/M$ in T47D human breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Trichostatin A caused potent apoptosis of T47D human breast cancer cells and trichostatin A-induced apoptosis might be involved in an increase of caspase-3／7 activity. HC-toxin evoked apoptosis of T47D cells and HC-toxin induced apoptosis might not be medi-ated through direct increase in caspase-3/7 activity. We have identified potent activities of anti-proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest of trichostatin A and HC-toxin in estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer cell line T47D.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.46-50
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• 2018

Cancer, a leading mortality disease following cardiovascular disease worldwide, has high incidence as one out of every four adults in Korea. It was known to be caused by several reasons including somatic mutation, activation of oncogene and chromosome aneuploidy. Cancer cells show a faster growth rate and have metastatic and heterogeneous cell populations compared to normal cells. Cancer stem cells, the most invested field in cancer biology, is a theory to explain heterogeneous cell populations of cancer cells among several characteristics of cancer cells, which is providing the theoretical background for incidence of cancer and treatment failure by drug resistance. Cancer stem cells initially explain heterogeneous cell populations of cancer cells based on the same markers of normal stem cells in cancer, in which only cancer stem cells showed heterogeneity of cancer cells and tumor initiating ability of leukemia. Based on these results, cancer stem cells were reported in various solid cancers such as breast cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer. Breast cancer stem cells were first reported in solid cancer which had tumor initiating ability and further identified as anti-cancer drug resistance. There were several identification methods in breast cancer stem cells such as specific surface markers and culture methods. The discovery of cancer stem cells not only explains heterogeneity of cancer cells, but it also provides theoretical background for targeting cancer stem cells to complete elimination of cancer cells. Many institutes have been developing new anticancer drugs targeting cancer stem cells, but there have not been noticeable results yet. Many researchers also reported a necessity for improvement of current concepts and methods of research on cancer stem cells. Herein, we discuss the limitations and the perspectives of breast cancer stem cells based on the current concept and history.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.878-885
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• 2020

Previously, we reported that globefish Takifugu obscurus homogenate suppresses the growth of human colorectal cancer cells. To extend the applications of globefish homogenate, we investigated its cytotoxic effects on human breast cancer cells. To assess the effects of globefish homogenate on growth of MCF (Michigan Cancer Foundation)-7 human breast cancer cells, cell proliferation and colony formation assays were performed using the cell counting and Crystal Violet staining methods. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of globefish homogenate on MCF-7 cell proliferation was calculated from the sigmoidal dose-response curve. The colony formation assay demonstrated that MCF-7 cells treated with globefish homogenate formed up to 80% fewer colonies than control MCF-7 cells. Treatment with globefish homogenate markedly suppressed the growth of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The sensitivity of the cells to globefish homogenate was determined by calculating the IC50; in this case, the IC50 was 210 ㎍/mL. Furthermore, significant downregulation of Cyclin D1 expression, along with phospho-Akt and total Akt levels, was observed in MCF-7 cells treated with globefish homogenate. This study demonstrates that treatment with globefish homogenate inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by downregulating the expression of phosphor-Akt, total Akt, and Cyclin D1 proteins.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.4
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• 2019

Intratumor heterogeneity within a single tumor mass is one of the hallmarks of malignancy and has been reported in various tumor types. The molecular characterization of intratumor heterogeneity in breast cancer is a significant challenge for effective treatment. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data from a public resource, an ERBB pathway activated triple-negative cell population was identified. The differential expression of three subtyping marker genes (ERBB2, ESR1, and PGR) was not changed in the bulk RNA-seq data, but the single-cell transcriptomes showed intratumor heterogeneity. This result shows that ERBB signaling is activated using an indirect route and that the molecular subtype is changed on a single-cell level. Our data propose a different view on breast cancer subtypes, clarifying much confusion in this field and contributing to precision medicine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3293-3299
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• 2015

Background: Arm protein lost in epithelial cancers, on chromosome X (ALEX) is a novel subgroup within the armadillo (ARM) family, which has one or two ARM repeat domains as opposed to more than six-thirteen repeats in the classical Armadillo family members. Materials and Methods: In the study, we explore the biological functions of ALEX1 in breast cancer cells. Overexpression of ALEX1 and silencing of ALEX1 were performed with SK-BR3 and MCF-7 cell lines. Cell proliferation and colony formation assays, along with flow cytometry, were carried out to evaluate the roles of ALEX1. Results: ALEX1 overexpression in SK-BR3 breast cancer cells inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, depletion of ALEX1 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells increased proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. Additional analyses demonstrated that the overexpression of ALEX1 activated the intrinsic apoptosis cascades through up-regulating the expression of Bax, cytosol cytochrome c, active caspase-9 and active caspase-3 and down-regulating the levels of Bcl-2 and mitochondria cytochrome c. Simultaneouly, silencing of ALEX1 inhibited intrinsic apoptosis cascades through down-regulating the expression of Bax, cytosol cytochrome c, active caspase-9, and active caspase-3 and up-regulating the level of Bcl-2 and mitochondria cytochrome c. Conclusions: Our data suggest that ALEX1 as a crucial tumor suppressor gene has been involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis in breast cancer, which may serve as a novel candidate therapeutic target.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.656-662
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• 2005

Ginger (Zingiber of oficinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) is one of the most frequently and heavily consumed dietary condiments throughout the world. Besides its extensive use as a spice, the rhizome of ginger has also been used in traditional oriental herbal medicine for the management of symptoms such as common cold, digestive disorders, rheumatism, neurologia, colic, and motion-sickness. The oleoresin from rhizomes of ginger contains [6] -gingerol (1- [4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl]-5-hydroxy-3-decanone) and its homologs as pungent ingredients that have been found to possess many interesting pharmacological and physiological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antiheatotoxic, and cardiotonic effects. However, the effect of [6]-gingerol on cell proliferation in breast cancer cell are not currently well known. Therefore, in this study, we examined effect of [6]-gingerol on protein and mRNA expression associated with cell proliferation in MDA-MB-231 human breast. cancer cell lines. We cultured MDA-MB-231 cells in presence of 0, 2.5, 5 and $10{\mu}M$ of [6] -gingerol. [6]-Gingerol inhibited breast cancer cell growth in a dose-depenent manner as determined by MTT assay. ErbB2 and ErbB3 protein and mRNA expression were decreased dose-dependently in cells treated with [6]-gingerol (p<0.05). In addition, phosphorylated Akt levels and total hぉ levels were markedly decreased in cells treated with $2.5{\mu}M$ [6]-gingerol (p<0.05). In conclusion, we have shown that [6]-gingerol inhibits cell proliferation through ErbB2 and ErbB3, reduction in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines.