• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2291-2295
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• 2014

Although nucleolar protein nucleostemin (NS) is essential for cell proliferation and early embryogenesis and expression has been observed in some types of human cancer and stem cells, the molecular mechanisms involved in mediation of cell proliferation and cell cycling remains largely elusive. The aim of the present study was to evaluate NS as a potential target for gene therapy of human breast carcinoma by investigating NS gene expression and its effects on SKBR-3 cell proliferation and apoptosis. NS mRNA and protein were both found to be highly expressed in all detected cancer cell lines. The apoptotic rate of the pcDNA3.1-NS-Silencer group ($12.1-15.4{\pm}3.8%$) was significantly higher than those of pcDNA3.1-NS ($7.2-12.0{\pm}1.7%$) and non-transfection groups ($4.1-6.5{\pm}1.8%$, P<0.01). MTT assays showed the knockdown of NS expression reduced the proliferation rate of SKBR-3 cells significantly. Matrigel invasion and wound healing assays indicated that the number of invading cells was significantly decreased in the pcDNA3.1-NS-siRNA group (P<0.01), but there were no significant difference between non-transfected and over-expression groups (P>0.05). Moreover, RNAi-mediated NS down-regulation induced SKBR-3 cell G1 phase arrest, inhibited cell proliferation, and promoted p53 pathway-mediated cell apoptosis in SKBR-3 cells. NS might thus be an important regulator in the G2/M check point of cell cycle, blocking SKBR-3 cell progression through the G1/S phase. On the whole, these results suggest NS might be a tumor suppressor and important therapeutic target in human cancers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.110-111
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• 2013

FcBP consisting of 13 amino acids specifically binds to Immunoglobulin G Fc domain. Initially, we utilized this peptide for preparation of antibody chip as a PEG composite for enhanced solubility. After then, the peptide conjugate was immobilized on agarose resin, resulting in highly efficient affinity column for antibody purification. The efficiency was comparable to commercial Protein A column. Recently, this peptide was conjugated with cell penetrating peptide (CPP) on a backbone of GFP, affording antibody transducer, which carries antibody into live cells by simple mixing of antibody and the transducer in cell culture media. Antibody transduction into cells was monitored by live cell imaging. More recently, the FcBP was fused to ferritin cage, which consists of 24 ferritin protein molecules. The FcBP-ferritin cage showed greatly increased binding affinity to human IgG. Its binding was analyzed by QCM and SPR analysis. Finally, it was selectively delivered by Herceptin to SKBR3, a breast cancer cell, over MCF10A, non-tumorigenic cells (Fig. 1). Fig. 1. Fluorescent microscopic images of SKBR3 breast cancer cells (A~C) and MCF10A breast cells (D~F) treated with Cy3-trastuzumab/fFcBP-Pf_Fn complexes. Trastuzumab and FcBP-Pf_Fn, which were labeled with Cy3 (Cy3-trastuzumab) and fluorescein (fFcBP-Pf_Fn), respectively, selectively targeted SKBR3 over MCF10A.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8431-8438
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• 2016

Doxorubicin (DOX) was introduced as an effective chemotherapeutic for a wide range of cancers but with some severe side effects especially on myocardia. 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) enhances the damage caused by chemotherapeutics and ionizing radiation (IR) selectively in cancer cells. We have studied the effects of $1{\mu}M$ DOX and $500{\mu}M$ 2DG on radiation induced cell death, apoptosis and also on the expression levels of p53 and PTEN genes in T47D and SKBR3 breast cancer cells irradiated with 100, 150 and 200 cGy x-rays. DOX and 2DG treatments resulted in altered radiation-induced expression levels of p53 and PTEN genes in T47D as well as SKBR3 cells. In addition, the combination along with IR decreased the viability of both cell lines. The radiobiological parameter (D0) of T47D cells treated with 2DG/DOX and IR was 140 cGy compared to 160 cGy obtained with IR alone. The same parameters for SKBR3 cell lines were calculated as 120 and 140 cGy, respectively. The sensitivity enhancement ratios (SERs) for the combined chemo-radiotherapy on T47D and SKBR3 cell lines were 1.14 and 1.16, respectively. According to the obtained results, the combination treatment may use as an effective targeted treatment of breast cancer either by reducing the single modality treatment side effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5471-5476
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• 2015

2-deoxy-D-Glucose (2DG) causes cytotoxicity in cancer cells by disrupting thiol metabolism. It is an effective component in therapeutic strategies. It targets the metabolism of cancer cells with glycolysis inhibitory activity. On the other hand, MLN4924, a newly discovered investigational small molecule inhibitor of NAE (NEDD8 activating enzyme), inactivates SCF E3 ligase and causes accumulation of its substrates which triggers apoptosis. Combination of these components might provide a more efficient approach to treatment. In this research, 2DG and MLN4924 were co-applied to breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and SKBR-3) and cytotoxic and apoptotic activity were evaluated the by Micro culture tetrazolium test (MTT), TUNEL and ELISA methods. Caspase3 and Bcl2 genes expression were evaluated by real time Q-PCR methods. The results showed that MLN4924 and MLN4924/2DG dose-dependently suppressed the proliferation of MCF7 and SKBR-3 cells. Cell survival of breast cancer cells exposed to the combination of 2DG/MLN4924 was decreased significantly compared to controls (p<0.05), while 2DG and MLN4924 alone had less pronounced effects on the cells. The obtained results suggest that 2DG/MLN4924 is much more efficient in breast cancer cell lines with enhanced cytotoxicity via inducing a apoptosis cell signaling gene, caspase-3.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1967-1971
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• 2016

Background: In tumor cells, aberrant differentiation programs have been described. Several neuronal proteins have been found associated with morphological neuronal-glial changes in breast cancer (BCa). These neuronal proteins have been related to mechanisms that are involved in carcinogenesis; however, this regulation is not well understood. Microtubule-associated protein-tau (MAP-Tau) has been describing in BCa but not its variants. This finding could partly explain the neuronal-glial morphology of BCa cells. Our aim was to determine mRNA expression of MAP-tau variants 2, 4 and 6 in breast cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: Cultured cell lines MCF-10A, MDA-MB-231, SKBR3 and T47D were observed under phase-contrast microscopy for neural morphology and analyzed for gene expression of MAP-Tau transcript variants 2, 4 and 6 by real-time PCR. Results: Regarding morphology like neural/glial cells, T47D line shown more cells with these features than MDA-MB-231 and SKBR. In another hand, we found much greater mRNA expression of MAP-Tau transcript variants 2, and to a lesser extent 4 and 6, in T47D cells than the other lines. In conclusion, regulation of MAP-Tau could bring about changes in cytoskeleton, cell morphology and motility; these findings cast further light on neuronal transdifferentiation in BCa.

• Carbon letters
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2016

The attachment of 2-aminobenzamide to carboxylated multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-COOH was achieved through the formation of amide bonds. Then, the functionalized MWCNTs, MWCNT-amide, were treated by phosphoryl chloride to produce MWCNT-quin. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, derivative thermogravimetric, steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, and solubility testing. MWCNT-quin showed photo-electronic properties, which is due to the attachment of the 4-hydroxyquinazoline groups to them as proved by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. This suggests intramolecular interactions between the tubes and the attached 4-hydroxyquinazoline. The toxicity of the samples was evaluated in human embryonic kidney HEK293 and human breast cancer SKBR3 cell lines, and the viable cell numbers were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) after the cells were cultured for 24 h. Cellular investigations showed that the modified MWCNTs, particularly MWCNT-quin, have considerably significant toxic impact on SKBR3 as compared to HEK293 at the concentration of 5 µg/mL.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.692-698
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• 2019

Background: Breast cancer is a severe disease and the second leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. To surmount this, various diagnosis and treatment options for breast cancer have been developed. One of the most effective strategies for cancer treatment is to induce apoptosis using naturally occurring compounds. Compound K (CK) is a ginseng saponin metabolite generated by human intestinal bacteria. CK has been studied for its cardioprotective, antiinflammatory, and liver-protective effects; however, the role of CK in breast cancer is not fully understood. Methods: To investigate the anticancer effects of CK in SKBR3 and MDA-MB-231 cells, cell viability assays and flow cytometry analysis were used. In addition, the direct targets of CK anticancer activity were identified using immunoblotting analysis and overexpression experiments. Invasion, migration, and clonogenic assays were carried out to determine the effects of CK on cancer metastasis. Results: CK-induced cell apoptosis in SKBR3 cells as determined through 3-(4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays, propidium iodide (PI) and annexin V staining, and morphological changes. CK increased the cleaved forms of caspase-7, caspase-8, and caspase-9, whereas the expression of Bcl-2 was reduced by CK. In assays probing the cell survival pathway, CK activated only AKT1 and not AKT2. Moreover, CK inhibited breast cancer cell invasion, migration, and colony formation. Through regulation of AKT1 activity, CK exerts anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CK could be used as a therapeutic compound for breast cancer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.84-84
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• 2013

FcBP consisting of 13 amino acids specifically binds to Immunoglobulin G Fc domain. Initially, we utilized this peptide for preparation of antibody chip as a PEG composite for enhanced solubility. After then, the peptide conjugate was immobilized on agarose resin, resulting in highly efficient affinity column for antibody purification. The efficiency was comparable to commercial Protein A column. Recently, this peptide was conjugated with cell penetratingpeptide (CPP) on a backbone of GFP, affording antibody transducer, which carries antibody into live cells by simple mixing of antibody and the transducer in cell culture media. Antibody transduction into cells was monitored by live cell imaging. More recently, the FcBP was fused to ferritin cage, which consists of 24 ferritin protein molecules. The FcBP-ferritin cage showed greatly increased binding affinity to human IgG. Its binding was analyzed by QCM and SPR analysis. Finally, it was selectively delivered by Herceptin to SKBR3, a breast cancer cell, over MCF10A, non-tumorigenic cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1 s.61
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• pp.37-45
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• 2005

In the present study, we examined the effect of crude methanolic extract (CME) from Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Sieb on arachidonic acid (AA) cascade in SKBR3 human breast cancer cell line. CME had a potent inhibitory activity of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release induced by A23187, a $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore. The inhibition was concentration-dependent, with the 50 value of about 5 M. CME had no inhibitory effect on A23187-induced phosphorylation of p42/p44 extracellular signal regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase or on the liberation of [14C]-AA from the cells labeled with [14C]-AA. However, CME concentration-dependently inhibited the conversion of AA to $PGE_2$ in microsomal preparations, showing its possible inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX). In enzyme assay in vitro, CME inhibited the activities of both constitutive COX (COX­I) and inducible COX (COX-2) in a concentration-dependent manner, with the 50 values of about 0.8 and 2M, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis indicated that CME competitively inhibited the activities of both COX-l and -2. This study is a first demonstration that CME directly inhibits COX activity.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.36-47
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• 2019

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 ($HIF-1{\alpha}$) is a transcription factor activated in response to low oxygen level, and is highly expressed in many solid tumors. Moreover, $HIF-1{\alpha}$ is a representative biomarker of hypoxia and also helps to maintain cell homeostasis under hypoxic condition. Most solid tumors show hypoxia, which induces poor prognosis and resistance to conventional cancer therapies. Thus, early diagnosis of hypoxia with positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer would be highly beneficial for management of malignant solid tumors with effective cancer therapy. YC-1 is a most promising candidate among several $HIF-1{\alpha}$ inhibitors. As an effort to develop a hypoxia imaging tool as a PET radiotracer, we designed and synthesized [$^{18}F$]DFYC based on potent derivative of YC-1 and performed preliminary in vitro cell uptake study. [$^{18}F$]DFYC showed a significant accumulation in SKBR-3 cells among other cancer cells, proving as a good lead to develop a hypoxic solid tumor such as breast cancer.