• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.683-692
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• 2004

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a major naturally-occurring polyphenol of Curcuma species, which is commonly used as a yellow coloring and flavoring agent in foods. Curcumin has shown anti-carcinogenic activity in animal models. Curcumin possesses anti-inflammatory activity and is a potent inhibitor of reactive oxygen-generating enzymes such as lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase, xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase and inducible nitric oxide synthase; and an effective inducer of heme oxygenase-1. Curcumin is also a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C(PKC), EGF(Epidermal growth factor)-receptor tyrosine kinase and LĸB kinase. Subsequently, curcumin inhibits the activation of NF(nucleor factor)KB and the expressions of oncogenes including c-jun, c-fos, c-myc, NIK, MAPKs, ERK, ELK, PI3K, Akt, CDKs and iNOS. It is proposed that curcumin may suppress tumor promotion through blocking signal transduction path-ways in the target cells. The oxidant tumor promoter TPA activates PKC by reacting with zinc thiolates present within the regulatory domain, while the oxidized form of cancer chemopreventive agent such as curcumin can inactivate PKC by oxidizing the vicinal thiols present within the catalytic domain. Recent studies indicated that proteasome-mediated degradation of cell proteins playa pivotal role in the regulation of several basic cellular processes including differentiation, proliferation, cell cycling, and apoptosis. It has been demonstrated that curcumin-induced apoptosis is mediated through the impairment of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Curcumin was first biotransformed to dihydrocurcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin and that these compounds subsequently were converted to monoglucuronide conjugates. These results suggest that curcumin-glucuronide, dihydrocurcumin-glucuronide, tetrahydrocurcumin-glucuronide and tetrahydrocurcumin are the major metabolites of curcumin in mice, rats and humans.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 1999

Oral cancer is a common neoplasm in humans and etiologic mechanism is not well known, so treatment and evaluation of oral cancer is difficult problem. Traditional TNM classification between prognosis of tumors and classification of histopathologic differentiation has problem like lack of objectivity through operators. In molecular biology, cancer is developed by alteration of activation of oncogene and/or inactivation of tumor suppressor gene. The p53 gene, one of the tumor suppresor genes, is believed to play an important role through mutation and overexpression in the progression of human cancers. The p53 mutation is most frequent genetic disorder in humans. The Cyclin D1 has tumor suppresion activity by regulation of cell cycle. The Cyclin D1 regulate activity of Rb tumor suppresor gene by stimulation of CDK4 The purpose of this study was to observe the expression of p53 protein and Cyclin D1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and to get expectation of the malignancy and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Using the 15 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and the microscopic H&E and immunohistochemical stain. We divided it into 3 groups according to the stain extent, clinical stage and histologic differentiation. The results were as follows1.In the features of immunohistochemical stain of 15 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, positive reaction of p53 was identified in 8 cases (53.3%) and positive reaction of cyclin D1 was identified in 3 cases (20%). Both positive reaction of p53 protein and Cyclin D1 was show in only one case. 2.8 of p53 positive cases were linked in 87.5% of the end stage tumor, 62.5% of neck node involvement, 87.5% of poorly and moderately histopathplogic differentiation. 3. All 3 of Cyclin D1 positive cases were linked in the end stage tumor, neck node involvement, poorly and moderately histopathologic differentiation. From above results, expression of p53 protein was identified in 53.3% of 15 cases and these results mean oral squamous cell carcinoma was drived by mutation of p53 protein. Especially, highly positive reaction of p53 protein and Cyclin D1 was identified in cases that involvement of neck lymph node and the end stage tumors and it means that the evaluation of p53 protein and Cyclin D1 was useful for evaluation of malignant tumor as specific tumor marker.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.725-730
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• 2009

Cyclin E1 (CCNE1), a positive regulator of the cell cycle, controls the transition of cells from G1 to S phase. In numerous human tumors, however, CCNE1 expression is frequently dysregulated, while the mechanism leading to its dysregulation remains incompletely defined. Herein, we showed that CCNE1 expression was subject to post-transcriptional regulation by a microRNA miR-16-1. This was evident at protein level of CCNE1 as well as its mRNA level. Further evident by dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that two evolutionary conserved binding sites on 3' UTR of CCNE1 were the direct functional target sites. Moreover, we showed that miR-16-1 induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest by targeting CCNE1 and siRNA against CCNE1 partially phenocopied miR-16-1-induced cell cycle phenotype whereas substantially rescued anti-miR-16-1- induced phenotype. Together, all these results demonstrate that miR-16-1 plays a vital role in modulating cellular process in human cancers and indicate the therapeutic potential of miR-16-1 in cancer therapy.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.131-137
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• 2008

Crk-associated substrate (CAS) is a focal adhesion protein that is involved in integrin signaling and cell migration. CAS deficiency reduces the migration and spreading of cells, both of which are processes mediated by Rac activation. We examined the functions of v-Crk, the oncogene product of the CT10 virus p47gag-crk, which affects cell migration and spreading, membrane ruffling, and Rac activation in CAS-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (CAS-/- MEFs). CAS-/- MEFs showed less spreading than did CAS+/+ MEFs, but spreading was recovered in mutant cells that expressed v-Crk (CAS-/-v-Crk MEF). We observed that the reduction in spreading was linked to the formation of membrane ruffles, which were accompanied by Rac activation. In CAS-/- MEFs, Rac activity was significantly reduced, and Rac was not localized to the membrane. In contrast, Rac was active and localized to the membrane in CAS-/-v-Crk MEFs. Lamellipodia protrusion and ruffle retraction velocities were both reduced in CAS-/- MEFs, but not in CAS-/-v-Crk MEFs. We also found that microinjection of anti-gag antibodies inhibited the migration of CAS-/-v-Crk MEFs. These findings indicate that v-Crk controls cell migration and membrane dynamics by activating Rac in CAS-deficient MEFs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6653-6656
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• 2013

Background: The single most common proto-oncogene change in human neoplasms is a point mutation in RAS genes. A wide range of variation in frequency of KRAS mutations has been seen in hematologic malignancies. Despite this, RAS roles in leukemogenesis remain unclear. The frequency of KRAS mutations in CML has been reported to be between zero an 10%. Many attempts have been done to develop an anti-RAS drug as a therapeutic target. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran from 2010-2012. In 78 CML patients (diagnosed according to WHO 2008 criteria) in chronic or accelerated phases, KRAS mutations in codons 12 and 13 were analyzed using a modified PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Results: We did not detect any KRAS mutations in this study. Conclusions: KRAS mutations are overall rare in early phase CML and might be secondary events happening late in leukemogenesis cooperating with initial genetic lesions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.5
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• pp.349-354
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• 2011

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and E6 oncoprotein expression are known risk factors for the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of HPV 16/18 E6 oncoprotein expression in patients with NSCLC. Methods: Immunohistochemical stains of the HPV 16/18 E6 oncoprotein were performed in tumor tissues from 68 patients with NSCLC who underwent curative surgery from March 2006 to November 2008. Results: The E6 oncoprotein was expressed in 29.4% of patients with NSCLC and a statistical analysis revealed that E6 oncoprotein expression was significantly higher in females (p=0.028), never smokers (p=0.045), and patients with adenocarcinoma (p=0.022) than that in other patients. Conclusion: The E6 oncoprotein was expressed in 29.4% of patients with NSCLC. Further studies detecting HPV infection and E6 oncoprotein expression in never smoking patients with NSCLC are needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6243-6246
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• 2014

To investigate the role of miR-1297 and the tumor suppressor gene PTEN in cell proliferation of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). MTT assays were used to test the effect of miR-1297 on proliferation of the NCCIT testicular germ cell tumor cell line. In NCCIT cells, the expression of PTEN was assessed by Western blotting further. In order to confirm target association between miR-1297 and 3'-UTR of PTEN, a luciferase reporter activity assay was employed. Moreover, roles of PTEN in proliferation of NCCIT cells were evaluated by transfection of PTEN siRNA. Proliferation of NCCIT cells was promoted by miR-1297 in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, miR-1297 could bind to the 3'-UTR of PTEN based on luciferase reporter activity assay, and reduced expression of PTEN at protein level was found. Proliferation of NCCIT cells was significantly enhanced after knockdown of PTEN by siRNA. miR-1297 as a potential oncogene could induce cell proliferation by targeting PTEN in NCCIT cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4501-4507
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• 2013

Caveolin-1 is a scaffold protein on the cell membrane. As the main component of caveolae, caveolin-1 is involved in many biological processes that include substance uptake and transmembrane signaling. Many of these processes and thus caveolin-1 contribute to cell transformation, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. Of particular interest are the dual rolesof tumor suppressor and oncogene that caveolin-1 appear to play in different malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. Therefore, analyzing caveolin-1 regulators and understanding their mechanisms of actionis key to identifying novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools for pancreatic cancer. This review details the mechanisms of action of caveolin-1 regulators and the potential significance for pancreatic cancer treatment.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.595-598
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• 2008

Emodin (3-methyl-1,6,8-trihydroxyanthraquinone) is a natural chemotherapeutic compound with diverse biological properties including an antitumor activity. Emodin, a specific inhibitor of the protein tyrosine kinase, has a number of cellular targets in related to it. Its inhibition activity affects the mammalian cell cycle regulation in specific oncogene. Practically, it has been proven to inhibit HER-2/neu tyrosine kinase expressing breast cancer cells as an anticancer agent. 2-[123I]iodoemodin has been synthesized and evaluated human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, fibroblast as a control) which express basal levels of HER-2/neu tyrosine kinase to investigate its suitability as a breast cancer imaging agent and 2-iodoemodin has been synthesized as a standard compound. The radiochemical yield of the 2-[123I]iodoemodin was about 72% and its radiochemical purity was over 97% after purification. The radioactivity of the 2-[123I]iodoemodin was increased in a time dependent manner in both cell lines and the ratio of MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 to fibroblast was 2.9 and 1.7, respectively.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.637-640
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• 1997

Raf-1, a cytoplasmic serine/threonine protein kinase, serves as a central intermediate in many signaling pathways in cell proliferation, differentiation, and development. In this study, we investigated that B-raf, Drosophila homolog of the human c-raf-1, is involved in ultraviolet (UV) responsive events by using hypomorphic mutant $D-raf^{c110}$ and Draf-lacZ transgenic fly. At first, effect of UV damage on the survival of wild-type and $D-raf^{C110}$ strains was examined. In terms of $1/LD_{50}$ value, the relative ratio of UV sensitivities of wild-type versus $D-raf^{C110}$ strain was 1 : 2.2. By using quantitative $\beta$-galactosidase activity analysis, transcriptional activity of the D-raf gene promoter was also examined in UV-irradiated Draf-lacZ transgenic larvae. UV irradiation increased the expression of lacZ reporter gene in Draf-lacZ transgenic fly. However, in $D-raf^{C110}$ strain the transcriptional activity of D-raf gene promoter by UV irradiation was extensively reduced. Results obtained in this study suggest that D-raf plays a role in UV response, leading to better survival of Drosophila to UV damage.