• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2005

Objective : Anti-malaria drugs may modulate tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, but it has not been proven effective in the treatment of malignant gliomas. The aim of this study was to determine whether adequate pre-clinical data on co-administration of chemotherapeutic agents with anti-malaria drugs on malignant cell lines could be obtained that would warrant its further potential consideration for use in a clinical trial for malignant gliomas. Methods : Two malignant glioma cell lines [U87MG, T98G] were treated with chemotherapeutic agents alone or with anti-malaria drugs. Cells were incubated with drugs for 4 days. Following the 4-day incubation, drug sensitivity assays were performed using 3-[4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazol-2-yl] 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT] assay following optimization of experimental conditions for each cell lines and cell viability was calculated. Results : In all of four chemotherapeutic agents[doxorubicin. vincrisitne, nimustine, and cisplatin], the cell viability was found to be markedly decreased when hydroxychloroquine was co-administered on both U87MG and T98G cell lines. The two way analysis of variance[ANOVA] yielded a statistically significant two-sided p-value of 0.0033[doxorubicin], 0.0005[vincrisitne], 0.0007[nimustine], and 0.0003[cisplatin] on U87MG cell lines and 0.0006[doxorubicin], 0.0421[vincrisitne], 0.0317[nimustine], and 0.0001[cisplatin] on T98G cell lines, respectively. However, treatment with chloroquine and primaquine did not induce a decrease in cell viability on both U87MG and T98G cell lines. Conclusion : Our data support further consideration of the use of hydroxychloroquine prior to systemic chemotherapy to maximize its tumoricidal effect for patients with malignant gliomas.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2019

Objectives: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is considered as a deadly medical condition that affects a growing number of people worldwide. Targeted therapy of ESCC has been suggested recently and required extensive research. With cyclin D1 as a therapeutic target, the present study aimed at evaluating the anticancer effects of doxorubicin (Dox) or Hypericum perforatum L. (HP) extract encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles on the ESCC cell line KYSE30. Methods: Nanoparticles were prepared using double emulsion method. Cytotoxicity assay was carried out to measure the anti-proliferation activity of Dox-loaded (Dox NPs) and HP-loaded nanoparticles (HP NPs) against both cancer and normal cell lines. The mRNA gene expression of cyclin D1 was evaluated to validate the cytotoxicity studies at molecular level. Results: Free drugs and nanoparticles significantly inhibited KYSE30 cells by 55-73% and slightly affected normal cells up to 29%. The IC50 of Dox NPs and HP NPs was ~ 0.04-0.06 mg/mL and ~ 0.6-0.7 mg/mL, respectively. Significant decrease occurred in cyclin D1 expression by Dox NPs and HP NPs (P < 0.05). Exposure of KYSE-30 cells to combined treatments including both Dox and HP extract significantly increased the level of cyclin D1 expression as compared to those with individual treatments (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Dox NPs and HP NPs can successfully and specifically target ESCC cells through downregulation of cyclin D1. The simultaneous use of Dox and HP extract should be avoided for the treatment of ESCC.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.145-155
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• 2022

Multidrug resistance of tumors has been a severe obstacle to the success of cancer chemotherapy. The study wants to investigate the reversal effects of imperatorin (IMP) on doxorubicin (DOX) resistance in K562/DOX leukemia cells, A2780/Taxol cells and in NOD/SCID mice, to explore the possible molecular mechanisms. K562/DOX and A2780/Taxol cells were treated with various concentrations of DOX and Taol with or without different concentrations of IMP, respectively. K562/DOX xenograft model was used to assess anti-tumor effect of IMP combined with DOX. MTT assay, Rhodamine 123 efflux assay, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis were determined in vivo and in vitro. Results showed that IMP significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of DOX and Taxol toward corresponding resistance cells. In vivo results illustrated both the tumor volume and tumor weight were significantly decreased after 2-week treatment with IMP combined with DOX compared to the DOX alone group. Western blotting and RT-PCR analyses indicated that IMP downregulated the expression of P-gp in K562/DOX xenograft tumors in NOD/SCID mice. We also evaluated glycolysis and glutamine metabolism in K562/DOX cells by measuring glucose consumption and lactate production. The results revealed that IMP could significantly reduce the glucose consumption and lactate production of K562/DOX cells. Furthermore, IMP could also remarkably repress the glutamine consumption, α-KG and ATP production of K562/DOX cells. Thus, IMP may sensitize K562/DOX cells to DOX and enhance the antitumor effect of DOX in K562/DOX xenograft tumors in NOD/SCID mice. IMP may be an adjuvant therapy to mitigate the multidrug resistance in leukemia chemotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2014

Background: Hydrogels are a class of polymers that can absorb water or biological fluids and swell to several times their dry volume, dependent on changes in the external environment. In recent years, hydrogels and hydrogel nanocomposites have found a variety of biomedical applications, including drug delivery and cancer treatment. The incorporation of nanoparticulates into a hydrogel matrix can result in unique material characteristics such as enhanced mechanical properties, swelling response, and capability of remote controlled actuation. Materials and Methods: In this work, synthesis of hydrogel nanocomposites containing magnetic nanoparticles are studied. At first, magnetic nanoparticles ($Fe_3O_4$) with an average size 10 nm were prepared. At second approach, thermo and pH-sensitive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide -co-methacrylic acid-co-vinyl pyrrolidone) (NIPAAm-MAA-VP) were prepared. Swelling behavior of co-polymer was studied in buffer solutions with different pH values (pH=5.8, pH=7.4) at $37^{\circ}C$. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles ($Fe_3O_4$) and doxorubicin were incorporated into copolymer and drug loading was studied. The release of drug, carried out at different pH and temperatures. Finally, chemical composition, magnetic properties and morphology of doxorubicin-loaded magnetic hydrogel nanocomposites were analyzed by FT- IR, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: The results indicated that drug loading efficiency was increased by increasing the drug ratio to polymer. Doxorubicin was released more at $40^{\circ}C$ and in acidic pH compared to that $37^{\circ}C$ and basic pH. Conclusions: This study suggested that the poly (NIPAAm-MAA-VP) magnetic hydrogel nanocomposite could be an effective carrier for targeting drug delivery systems of anti-cancer drugs due to its temperature sensitive properties.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.179-184
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• 2014

Chemoresistance of breast cancer to doxorubicin is mediated mainly through activation of NF-kB and over expression of HER2. Curcumin and its analogues (PGV-0 and PGV-1) exert cytotoxic effects on T47D breast cancer cells. Suppression of NF-kB activation is suggested to contribute to this activity. The present study aimed to explore the effects of curcumin, PGV-0, and PGV-1 singly and in combination with doxorubicin on MCF-7/Dox cells featuring over-expression of HER2. In MTT assays, curcumin, PGV-0, and PGV-1 showed cytotoxicity effects against MCF-7/Dox with IC50 values of $80{\mu}M$, $21{\mu}M$, and $82{\mu}M$ respectively. These compounds increased MCF-7/Dox sensitivity to doxorubicin. Cell cycle distribution analysis exhibited that the combination of curcumin and its analogues with Dox increased sub G-1 cell populations. Curcumin and PGV-1 but not PGV-0 decreased localization of p65 into the nucleus induced by Dox, indicating that activation of NF-kB was inhibited. Molecular docking of curcumin, PGV-0, and PGV-1 demonstrated high affinity to HER2 at ATP binding site. This interaction were directly comparable with those of ATP and lapatinib. These findings suggested that curcumin, PGV-0 and PGV-1 enhance the Dox cytotoxicity to MCF-7 cells through inhibition of HER2 activity and NF-kB activation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6227-6232
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• 2014

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains as one of the most difficult malignancies to control because of its high propensity for local invasion and cervical lymph node dissemination. The aim of present study was to evaluate the efficacy of novel pH and temperature sensitive doxorubicin-methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles (DOX-MTX NP) in terms of their potential to change the VEGF-C expression profile in a rat OSCC model. Materials and Methods: 120 male rats were divided into 8 groups of 15 animals administrated with 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide to induce OSCCs. Newly formulated doxorubicin-methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles (DOX-MTX NP) and free doxorubicin were IV and orally administered. Results: Results indicated that both oral and IV forms of DOX-MTX-nanoparticle complexes caused significant decrease in the mRNA level of VEGF-C compared to untreated cancerous rats (p<0.05). Surprisingly, the VEGF-C mRNA was not affected by free DOX in both IV and oral modalities (p>0.05). Furthermore, in DOX-MTX NP treated group, less tumors characterized with advanced stage and VEGF-C mRNA level paralleled with improved clinical outcome (p<0.05). In addition, compared to untreated healthy rats, the VEGF-C expression was not affected in healthy groups that were treated with IV and oral dosages of nanodrug (p>0.05). Conclusions: VEGF-C is one of the main prognosticators for lymph node metastasis in OSCC. Down-regulation of this lymph-angiogenesis promoting factor is a new feature acquired in group treated with dual action DOX-MTX-NPs. Beside the synergic apoptotic properties of concomitant use of DOX and MTX on OSCC, DOX-MTX NPs possessed anti-angiogenesis properties which was related to the improved clinical outcome in treated rats. Taking together, we conclude that our multifunctional doxorubicin-methotrexate complex exerts specific potent apoptotic and anti-angiogenesis properties that could ameliorate the clinical outcome presumably via down-regulating dissemination factor-VEGF-C expression in a rat OSCC model.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-47
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• 2008

Anthracycline antibiotics doxorubicin (DXR) is clinically important cancer therapeutic agent produced by Streptomyces peucetius. DXR result by further metabolism of rhodomycin D (RHOD) and require a deoxy-sugar component for their biological activity. In this study, production of TDP-L-daunosamine and its attachment to ${\varepsilon}$-rhodomycinone (RHO) to generate RHOD has been achieved by bioconversion in Streptomyces venezuelae that bears eleven genes. S. peucetius seven genes (dnmUTJVZQS) were transformed by plasmid and S. venezuelae two genes desIII, IV and two more S. peucetius drrA, B genes were integrated into chromosomal DNA. To generate the feeding substrate RHO, 6L S. peucetius grown on agar plate was harvested, extracted with organic solvent and then purified using preparative HPLC. Recombinant S. venezuelae grown on agar plate containing RHO was harvested and its n-butanol soluble components were extracted. The glycosylated product of aromatic polyketide RHO using heterologous host S. venezuelae presents the minimal information for TDP-L-daunosamine biosynthesis and its attachment onto aglycone. Moreover, the structure of auxiliary protein, DnrQ, was predicted by fold recognition and homology modeling in this study. This is a general approach to further expand of new glycosides of antitumor anthracycline antibiotics.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2008

are nanometer or micrometer scale vesicles that can be used as drug delivery carriers. However, plain liposomes are plagued by rapid opsonization, making their circulation time in bloodstream be shortened. In this study, model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated liposomes were prepared by coating cationic liposomes with BSA molecules at higher pH than isoelectric point of BSA. The BSA molecules coated on the liposomal surface were denatured by thermal treatment at above 60oC. While both plain and cationic liposomes had about mean particle diameter of 1041 nm, BSA-coated cationic liposomes (BCL) had mean particle diameter of 1091 nm. Encapsulation of model drug, doxorubicin (DOX), in liposomes were carried out by using remote loading method and the loading efficiency of DOX to liposomes was about 90%. The mean particle diameter of BCL did not increase in blood plasma and adsorption of plasma protein was much less than plain or cationic liposomes. These results suggest that BCL can be used as a long-circulating liposomes in bloodstream.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.167-179
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• 2019

Ovarian cancer is the fifth main cause of pre-senescent death in women. Although chemotherapy is generally an efficient treatment, its side effects and the occurrence of chemotherapeutic resistance have prompted the need for alternative treatments. In this study, ${\alpha}$-mangostin and apigenin were evaluated as possible anticancer alternatives to the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin, used herein as a positive control. The ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line SKOV-3 (ATCC No. HTB77) was used as model ovarian cancer cells, whereas the skin fibroblast line CCD-986Sk (ATCC No. CRL-1947) and lung fibroblast line WI-38 (ATCC No. CCL-75) were used as model untransformed cells. Apigenin and doxorubicin inhibited the growth of SKOV-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After 72 hr exposure, doxorubicin was mostly toxic to SKOV-3 cells, whereas apigenin was toxic to SKOV-3 cells but not CCD-986Sk and WI-38 cells. ${\alpha}$-Mangostin was more toxic to SKOV-3 cells than to CCD-986Sk cells. A lower cell density, cell shrinkage, and more unattached (floating round) cells were observed in all treated SKOV-3 cells, but the greatest effects were observed with ${\alpha}$-mangostin. With regard to programmed cell death, apigenin caused early apoptosis within 24 hr, whereas ${\alpha}$-mangostin and doxorubicin caused late apoptosis and necrosis after 72 hr of exposure. Caspase-3 activity was significantly increased in ${\alpha}$-mangostin-treated SKOV-3 cells after 12 hr of exposure, whereas only caspase-9 activity was significantly increased in apigenin-treated SKOV-3 cells at 24 hr. Both ${\alpha}$-mangostin and apigenin arrested the cell cycle at the $G_2/M$ phase, but after 24 and 48 hr, respectively. Significant upregulation of BCL2 (apoptosis-associated gene) and COX2 (inflammation-associated gene) transcripts was observed in apigenin- and ${\alpha}$-mangostin-treated SKOV-3 cells, respectively. ${\alpha}$-Mangostin and apigenin are therefore alternative options for SKOV-3 cell inhibition, with apigenin causing rapid early apoptosis related to the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, and ${\alpha}$-mangostin likely being involved with inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2024

A pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) enhances the efficacy of several anticancer drugs. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anticancer agent used to treat various malignancies, including breast cancer. This study examined whether a PEMF increases the anticancer effect of DOX on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and elucidated the underlying mechanisms affected by PEMF stimulation in DOX-treated MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. A cotreatment with DOX and a PEMF potentiated the reduction in MCF-7 cell viability compared to the treatment with DOX alone. The PEMF elevated DOX-induced G1 arrest by affecting cyclin-dependent kinase 2 phosphorylation and the expression of G1 arrest-related molecules, including p53, p21, cyclin E2, and polo like kinase 1. In addition, PEMF increased the DOX-induced upregulation of proapoptotic proteins, such as Fas and Bcl-2-associated X, and the downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins, including myeloid leukemia 1 and survivin. PEMF promoted the DOX-induced activation of caspases-8, -9, and -7 and poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase cleavage in MCF-7 cells. In conclusion, PEMF enhances the anticancer activity in DOX-treated MCF-7 breast cancer cells by increasing G1 cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis. These findings highlight the potential use of a PEMF as an adjuvant treatment for DOX-based chemotherapy against breast cancer.