• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1490-1503
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• 2016

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world. Although 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is the representative chemotherapy drug for colorectal cancer, it has therapeutic limits due to its chemoresistant characteristics. Colorectal cancer cells can develop into cancer stem cells (CSCs) with self-renewal potential, thereby causing malignant tumors. The human gastrointestinal tract contains a complex gut microbiota that is essential for the host's homeostasis. Recently, many studies have reported correlations between gut flora and the onset, progression, and treatment of CRC. The present study confirms that the most representative symbiotic bacteria in humans, Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) supernatant (SN), selectively inhibit the characteristics of 5-FU-resistant colorectal cancer cells (HT-29 and HCT-116). LP SN inhibited the expression of the specific markers CD44, 133, 166, and ALDH1 of CSCs. The combination therapy of LP SN and 5-FU inhibited the survival of CRCs and led to cell death by inducing caspase-3 activity. The combination therapy of LP SN and 5-FU induced an anticancer mechanism by inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling of chemoresistant CRC cells, and reducing the formation and size of colonospheres. In conclusion, our results show that LP SN can enhance the therapeutic effect of 5-FU for colon cancer, and reduce colorectal cancer stem-like cells by reversing the development of resistance to anticancer drugs. This implies that probiotic substances may be useful therapeutic alternatives as biotherapeutics for chemoresistant CRC.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1145-1151
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• 2012

Aspirin and its deacetylated form, sodium salicylate (NaSal), have been shown to exert chemopreventive activities against many human cancers including those of the colon, lung, and breast. Previously, we showed that combined treatment of NaSal and genistein synergistically induced apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells, indicating that these two natural chemicals could be used in combination for cancer therapy. In this study, we examined effects of NaSal/genistein combined treatment on other cancer cells and in three-dimensional multicellular tumor spheroid (MTS) and in an in vitro solid tumor model. We found that the combined treatment induces apoptosis in the HCT116 cells and the A549 cells, but not in the MCF-7 cells. Interestingly, the MCF-7 cells responded to the NaSal/genistein combined treatment by undergoing cell death when they were cultivated as MTS. The combined treatment induced apoptosis at an earlier stage in the MCF-7 MTS culture. However, when the MCF-7 MTS was cultivated for a longer period, it induced necrosis rather than apoptosis. We further found that the apoptotic pattern observed in MCF-7 MTS was incomplete: the chromatins were condensed and fragmented, but the nuclear membrane was still intact. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the NaSal/genistein combined treatment induces incomplete apoptosis and necrosis in the MCF-7 MTS culture system.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.365-376
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• 2024

The present study assessed the cytotoxic effects on cell growth and senescence in human cancer (A-549, AGS, HCT-116, MDA-MB-231, and U 87-MG) and normal (MRC-5 and mesenchymal stem cells) cell lines treated with efavirenz (EFA), an inhibitor of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RTase). Following EFA treatment, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values were approximately 15 µM, and the IC₅₀ value was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the cancer cell lines, compared to normal cell lines. After determining the IC₅₀ values against EFA, each cell line was treated with 15 µM EFA for up to one week. Significant (p<0.05) decreases in endogenous RTase and telomerase activity were observed in the cancer cell lines. RTase and telomerase activity were absent or detected at very low levels in both EFA-untreated and treated MRC-5 and MSC normal cells. The cell doubling time (CDT) was also significantly (p<0.05) prolonged by the decreased cell growth rate in the EFA-treated cancer cell lines compared to the untreated cell lines. Furthermore, EFA-treated cancer cells displayed a high number of cells with a high intensity of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity (SA-ß-gal activity), compared to the untreated cells. The present study showed that inhibition of RTase activity induces cellular senescence and arrests cell growth in human cancer cell lines; however, normal cell lines showed greater tolerance against EFA. RTase treatment could offer optional chemotherapy for cancer treatment in human cancer cell lines with high RTase activity.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2011

Vitamin C (VC) is an important antioxidant and enzyme co-factor that works by stimulating the immune system and protecting against infections. It is well known that melanoma cells are more susceptible to VC than any other tumor cells. However, the role of VC in the treatment of colon cancer has not been studied. Cisplatin (CDDP) is a DNA damaging agent and is widely used for treating cancer, while the role of p53 in CDDP-induced cell death has been stressed. Using cell growth assays, morphological methods, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and DNA fragmentation analysis, we measured the expression of p53 level involved in the effect of VC on CDDP-induced apoptosis of HCT116, a human colon cancer cell line. CDDP plus VC treatment resulted in significantly increased apoptosis along with upregulation of p53 compared to untreated cells and/or CDDP-treated cells. These results suggest that VC enhanced CDDP sensitivity and apoptosis via upregulation of p53.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.849-860
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• 2015

The anti-cancer activities of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (GC), Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai (UGP) and arsenium sublimatum (SS) extracts, which have been used Oriental medicine therapy for various diseases, were investigated. The treatment of GC, UGP and SS alone, and combined treatment with GC, UGP and SS did not affect the cell viability in the mouse normal cell lines (RAW 264.7 macrophages and C2C12 myoblasts). However, co-treatment with GC, UGP and SS markedly induces apoptosis in human gastric cancer AGS cells, but not in other various cancer cell lines (human lung cancer A549, colon cancer HCT116, liver cancer Hep3B and bladder T24 cells) as evidenced by formation of apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and accumulation of annexin-V positive cells. Co-treatment with GC, UGP and SS effectively induced the expression levels of Fas and Fas ligand, and inhibited the levels IAP family proteins such as XIAP, cIAP-1 and survivin, and anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL proteins compared with treatment with either agent alone. Combined treatment also significantly induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which was associated with the activation of caspases (-3, -8, and -9) and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, the cytotoxic effects induced by co-treatment with GC, UGP and SS were significantly attenuated by pan-caspases inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, indicating an important role for caspases. These results indicated that the caspases were key regulators of apoptosis in response to co-treatment of GC, UGP and SS in human gastric cancer AGS cells and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.43-44
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• 2007

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.442-447
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• 2010

We investigated anti-cancer and anti-proliferative activity of allicin and analyzed global gene expression changes by allicin treatment in human colorectal HCT116 cells. As a result, allicin decreased cell viabilities in a dose and time-dependent manner and induced apoptosis. Oligo DNA microarray analysis, we found that 7,840 genes were up-regulated more than 2-folds, whereas 10,010 genes were down-regulated more than 2-folds by $50\;{\mu}M$ allicin treatment. To confirm specific gene expressions, we performed RT-PCR. Consistent with the results of DNA microarray analysis, allicin dramatically induced ATF3 and NAG1 gene expression. Interestingly, NAG-1 protein expression was dependent on p53 presence. Taken together, our present results increase the knowledge of the molecular mechanism of anti-cancer and anti-proliferative activity mediated by allciin in human colorectal cancer cell.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4453-4458
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• 2012

Angiogenesis plays a significant role in colorectal cancer (CRC) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) appears to be involved with multiple aspects of CRC angiogenesis. Our aim was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Tan II-A (Tanshinone II-A, Tan II-A) on tumor growth in mice, as well as alteration of expression of COX-2 and VEGF in CRC. We established the mice xenograft model of C26 CRC cell line, and injected 0.5, 1, 2mg/kg of Tan II-A and 1mg/kg of 5-FU in respectively in vivo. Then, we assayed tumor weight and volume, and evaluated microvascular density and expression of VEGF. COX-2 promoter and COX-2 plasmids were transfected into HCT-116 cells, followed by detection of COX-2 promoter activity by chemiluminescence, and detection of COX-2 mRNA expression by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Taken together, the results showed Tan II-A could inhibit tumor growth and suppress the VEGF level in vivo. HCT-116 cell experiments showed marked inhibitory effects of Tan II-A on COX-2 and VEGF in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate that Tan II-A can effectively inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis of human colorectal cancer via inhibiting the expression level of COX-2 and VEGF.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2018

Background: Astilbe chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. is a plant belonging to Saxifragaceae family and contains various active ingredients including astilbin and bergenin. It has been used as a traditional Korean medicine to improve fever, pain, and cough. Recently, a number of Korean medical resources have been studied for cancer and inflammation treatment, but A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. has not yet been investigated. Consequently, this study investigated the inhibitory effect of ethanol extracts from A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. (ARE) on oxidative stress and colorectal cancer using RAW264.7 and the human colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116. Methods and Results: In total, $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ARE reduced cell viability by $38.96{\pm}1.32%$, and increased caspase-3 activity by $133.08{\pm}3.41%$ in HCT-116 cells. Moreover, TUNEL signaling and the early apoptosis ratio ($34.56{\pm}1.67%$) increased by $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ARE treatment. $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress and cell death were diminished by $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ARE treatment through decreasing ROS (reactive oxygen species). Conclusions: The inhibitory effects of ARE against human colorectal cancer cells is mediated by apoptosis and caspase-3 activation, and $H_2O_2$-induced ROS generation and cell death are decreased by ARE treatment in RAW264.7 cells. However, further study is required to explore how ARE treatment is involved in the signaling pathway to decrease ROS.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2018

Background: Inula japonica Thunb. is a plant belonging to the family compositae. Inulae flos (flower of I. britannica var. chinensis Regal.) is the dried flower of I. japonica Thunb. and contains various flavonoids (patulitrin, nepitrin and kaempferol), which have been utilized in traditional oriental medicine to treat nausea, phlegm, and coughs. However, ethanol extract of I. britannica (IJE) has not been previously studied for its use in cancer treatment, and its effects on oxidative stress, or inflammation. Thus, the present study investigated the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-colorectal cancer effects of IJE using RAW264.7 and HCT-116 cells, which are human colorectal cancer cell line. Methods and Results: IJE contained flavonoids ($80.95{\pm}5.3mg/g$) and polyphenols ($310.53{\pm}10.6mg/g$). Moreover, it reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Additionally, the $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ IJE treatment increased caspase-3 activity and apoptotic cell death in HCT-116 cells. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the anti-cancer effect of IJE against human colorectal cancer cells involves caspase-3 activation and apoptotic cell death. IJE also inhibited LPS-induced NO production, and $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in RAW264.7 cells. However, further studies are required to explore how IJE treatment regulates signal transduction in NO and ROS production.