• BMB Reports
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.269-274
• /
• 2003

In the fight against cancer, novel chemotherapeutic agents are constantly being sought to complement existing drugs. Various studies have presented evidence that the apoptosis that is induced by these anticancer agents is implicated in tumor regression, and Bcl-2 family genes play a part in apoptosis following treatment with various stimuli. Here, we present data that a styrylpyrone derivative (SPD) that is extracted from the plant Goniothalamus sp. showed cytotoxic effects on the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. SPD significantly increased apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, as visualized by phase contrast microscopy and evaluated by the Tdt-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay and nuclear morphology. Western blotting and immunostaining revealed up-regulation of the proapoptotic Bax protein expression. SPD, however, did not affect the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. These results, therefore, suggest SPD as a potent cytotoxic agent on MCF-7 cells by inducing apoptosis through the modulation of Bax levels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 2001.11a
• /
• pp.113-113
• /
• 2001

Stable MCF-7-ERE cells, in which pERE-Luc reporter gene has been stably integrated into the genome of the MCF-7 cells, were used to detect the estrogenic activity of various dietary flavonoids in either pure chemical or mixtures. Estradiol (E2) induced luciferase activity in dose dependent manner and this activity was inhibited by tamoxifen (Tam) concomitant treatment. A large series of flavonoids showed estrogenic activities, corresponding to EC5O values between 0.2 and 9 microM and their mixtures didn't show additive or synergistic effects. And we could find some structure and activity relationship. First, 4-methoxylation and catechol structure decreased estrogenic activities. Second, hydroxylation of 3 position reduced estrogenic effect. Third glycosides of flavonoids showed weak estrogenic activity or no activity. Interestingly, when tested at high concentrations, genistein, kaempferol, biochanin A and chrysin elicited luciferase induction higher than that of the maximum induction by estradiol. And these effects of genistein and kaempferol could not be fully inhibited with tamoxifen

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.163-168
• /
• 1998

Inhibitory effect of indole oligomers induced from indole-3-carbinol(I3C) on the growth of breast cancer cells was studied. We gernerated the reaction mixtures (RXM) at ambient temperature by treating a stirred aqueous solution of I3C (typeically 0.25ml) at a concentration of 12 $\mu$mol/ml) with hydrochloric acid (typically 28$\mu$l of a 1 mmol/ml solution). RXM was fractionated by the column chromatography. The fractions with similar UV-pattern were further fractionated by HPLC and 3.3'-diindoylmethane (DIM) and other indole oligomers were identified. I3C, RXM, and it derived indole compounds were added to MCF-7 cells and cultured in the presence of 10-7M estradiol for 7 days. the growth-inhibitory effect of I3C and DIM on the growth of MCF-7 cell was very strong. The synthetic DIM also revealed antiproliferative effect on MCF-7 cel. The fractions containing high DIM content (77%), were most effective in inhibiting MCF-7 cell growth induced by estradiol. With these results, we suggest that I3C and DIM might have anticarcinogenic effect on the breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8445-8450
• /
• 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
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.6233-6237
• /
• 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.

• Bulletin of Food Technology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.117-128
• /
• 2004

Sulforaphane은 브로컬리나 십자화과 채소중의 glucoraphanin의 가수분해 산물인 isothiocyanate로서 이는 detoxification 효소의 phase II를 일으키는 것으로 나타났고 설치류에서 화학적으로 발생된 유선 종양을 억제하고 최근에는 대장암 세포에서 cell cycle arrest와 apoptosis를 일으킨다고 알려져 왔다. 여기서는 SUL이 Human MammaryMCF-7 adenocarcinoma 세포의 증폭을 억제하는 역할을 제시하였다. MCF-7 cell에 15umol/L SUL을 처리하였을 때 G2/M cell cycle이 arrest를 보였고 cyclin B1 protein이 24시간 이내에 증가하였다. 15umol/L의 SUL은 in vivo 상에서 histon Hl의 인산화를 유도하고, 초기 mitosis에서 cell을block하며 mitotic microtuble의 중합화를 방해하였다. In vitro 상에서 정제된 bovine braintubulin에 대한 SUL을 고농도로 투여했을 때, tubulin의 중합율과 총 tubulin 중합도의 억제를 보였다. 덧붙여서, isothiocyanate를 함유하는 SULanalog로 처리된 정제 tubulin도 비슷하게 저해를 받았다. 본 연구는 SUL이 mitotic cell cyclearrest를 포함한 mammary cancer 억제력을 가진 것과, 이러한 기작으로 정상적인 tubulin 중합화및 microtubule dynamic에 한층 효과적인 영향을 준다는 것을 제시하였다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.1499-1506
• /
• 2016

Background: Crocus sativus and its major constituent crocin are well established to have anti-cancer properties in breast cancer cells (MCF-7). However the role of C. sativus extract (CSE) and crocin on caspase signaling mediated MCF-7 cell death at molecular level is remains unclear. In this study, we tried to unravel role of CSE and crocin on caspase mediated MCF-7 cells death and their in vivo preclinical toxicity profiling and immune stimulatory effect. Materials and Methods: CSE extract was fractionated by HPLC and crocin was isolated and characterized by NMR, IR, and MS. MCF-7 cells were treated with both CSE and crocin and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was assessed after 24 and 36 hours. Furthermore, caspase 3, caspase 8 and caspase 9 expression was determined by Western blotting after 24 hours of treatment. DNA fragmentation analysis was performed for genotoxicity of CSE and crocin in MCF-7 cells. The in vivo toxicity profile of CSE (300 mg/kg of b.wt) was investigated in normal Swiss albino mice. In addition, peritoneal macrophages were collected from crocin (1, 1.5 and 2 mg/kg body weight) treated mice and analyzed for ex vivo yeast phagocytosis. Results: Immunoblot analysis revealed that there was time dependent decline in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 with simultaneous upregulation of Bax in CSE and crocin treated MCF-7 cells. Further CSE and crocin treatment downregulated caspase 8 and 9 and cleaved the caspase 3 after 24 hours. Both CSE and crocin elicited considerable DNA damage in MCF-7 cells at each concentration tested. In vivo toxicity profile by histological studies revealed no observable histopathologic differences in the liver, kidney, spleen, lungs and heart in CSE treated and untreated groups. Crocin treatment elicited significant dose and time dependent ex vivo yeast phagocytosis by peritoneal macrophages. Conclusions: Our study delineated involvement of pro-apoptotic and caspase mediated MCF-7 cell death by CSE and crocin at the molecular level accompanied with extensive DNA damage. Further we found that normal swiss albino mice can tolerate the maximum dose of CSE. Crocin enhanced ex vivo macrophage yeast phagocytic ability.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
• /
• 2003.06a
• /
• pp.94-94
• /
• 2003

Endocrine disrupters (EDs) are exogenous chemicals that interfere with the production, releasing, metabolism, excretion, binding of natural hormones, and whole endocrine systems. EDs are very dangerous since they are extremely stable, not easily degraded, and accumulated in fat and tissue. 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is known as the most toxic EDs. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of TCDD on proliferation of human breast cancer (MCF-7) and endometrial adenocarcinoma (Hec-1B) cells. 10, 100, and 1000 nM of TCDD were treated with steroid free condition. Viable cell counting, MTT, and BrdU assay was performed to investigate cell proliferation. Apoptosis was investigated using DNA laddering. Although, DNA fragmentation as the evidence of apoptosis was not detected, all of these cell lines showed restricted proliferation at 48 hrs after 100 and 1000 nM TCDD treatments. Recently, it has been reported that the expression of transforming growth factor $\beta$s (TGF-$\beta$s) are increased in TCDD treatment and also involved in regulation of cell cycle. Therefore, these results were considered that the decreased cell prolifcration by TCDD is related to the expression of TGF-$\beta$s.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.5843-5848
• /
• 2012

Aim: Developing antitumor drugs from natural products is receiving increasing interest worldwide due to limitations and side effects of therapy strategies for the second leading cause of disease related mortality, cancer. Methods: The antiproliferative activity of a methanolic extract from the aerial parts of Marrubium persicum extract was assessed with the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line using the MTT test for cell viability and cytotoxicity indices. In addition, antioxidant properties of the extract were evaluated by measuring its ability to scavenge free DPPH radicals. Moreover, the total phenolic and flavonoid content of the extract was determined based on Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric aluminum chloride methods. Results: The findings of the study for the antiproliferative activity of the methanolic extract of M. persicum showed that growth of MCF-7 cells was inhibited by the extract in a dose and time dependent manner, where a gradual increase of cytotoxicity effect has been achieved setting out on 200 ${\mu}g/mL$ concentration of the plant extract. The antioxidant assay revealed that the extract was a strong scavenger of DPPH radicals with an $RC_{50}$ value of 52 ${\mu}g/mL$. The total phenolic and flavonoids content of the plant extract was 409.3 mg gallic acid equivalent and 168.9 mg quercetin equivalent per 100g of dry plant material. Conclusion: Overall, M. persicum possesses potential antiproliferative and antioxidant activities on the malignant MCF-7 cell line that could be attributed to the high content of phenolics and flavonoids, and therefore warrants further exploration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8135-8140
• /
• 2016

Background: Cell cycle regulatory proteins are suitable targets for cancer therapeutic development since genetic alterations in many cancers also affect the functions of these molecules. Strobilanthes crispus (S. crispus) is traditionally known for its potential benefits in treating various ailments. We recently reported that an active sub-fraction of S. crispus leaves (SCS) caused caspase-dependent apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Materials and Methods: Considering the ability of SCS to also promote the activity of the antiestrogen, tamoxifen, we further examined the effect of SCS in modulating cell cycle progression and related proteins in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells alone and in combination with tamoxifen. Expression of cell cycle-related transcripts was analysed based on a previous microarray dataset. Results: SCS significantly caused G1 arrest of both types of cells, similar to tamoxifen and this was associated with modulation of cyclin D1, p21 and p53. In combination with tamoxifen, the anticancer effects involved downregulation of $ER{\alpha}$ protein in MCF-7 cells but appeared independent of an ER-mediated mechanism in MDA-MB-231 cells. Microarray data analysis confirmed the clinical relevance of the proteins studied. Conclusions: The current data suggest that SCS growth inhibitory effects are similar to that of the antiestrogen, tamoxifen, further supporting the previously demonstrated cytotoxic and apoptotic actions of both agents.