• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3653-3656
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• 2012

Background: A number of effective prevention measures have been introduced in attempts to substantially reduce both the incidence and mortality due to many kinds of cancer. The search for new anti-cancer compounds in foods or in plant medicines is one realistic and promising approach to prevention. Chinese medicines provide a rich pool of novel and efficacious agents for cancer prevention and treatment. Previously it was demonstratrated that hyperin extracted from the Manchurian rhododendron leaf reduces the proliferation of many cancer cells. The present study was carried out to evaluate its effects on human endometrial cancer cell viability and apoptosis and to investigate its mechanisms of action in RL952 cells. Methods: Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. Intracellular calcium ions were detected using laser-scanning confocal microscopy. The effects of hyperin on apoptosis related proteins in RL952 cells were examined using Western blot analysis. Results: The growth of RL952 cells was inhibited by treatment with hyperin. OD values of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased and expression of bcl-2 was increased and bax was decreased in protein levels in RL952 cells after 24 h of hyperin treatment, Moreover, intracellular calcium accumulation occurred in hyperin-treated cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that hyperin may play an important role in tumor growth suppression by inducing apoptosis in human endometrial cells via a $Ca^{2+}$-related mitochondrion apoptotic pathway in RL952 cells.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2007

A previous report recently demonstrated that ultrasound-induced hyperthermia (USHT:0.4 watts (W)/$cm^2$ at $41^{\circ}C$) could increase cellular uptake of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates in P-gp expressing cancer cell lines. Since P-gp plays a major role in limiting drug permeability in the multi-drug resistant (MDR) cells, studies were conducted to elucidate the mechanism of USHT on cellular accumulation of P-gp and non-P-gp substrate in MDR cells. To accomplish this aim, we studied the effects of USHT on the accumulation of P-gp substrate, R123 and non-P-gp substrate, antipyrine in MDR cells. We demonstrated that USHT increased permeability of hydrophobic molecules (R123 and $[^{14}C]$-antipyrine). The enhanced permeability is reversible and size-dependent as USHT produces a much larger effect on cellular accumulation of $[^{14}C]$-antipyrine (MW 188) than that of R123 (MW 380.8). These results suggest that USHT could affect MDR cells more sensitive than BBMECs. Also, the present results point to the potential use of USHT to increase cellular uptake of P-gp recognized substrates, mainly anti-cancer agents into cancer cells.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.236-243
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• 2015

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a major side effect of anti-cancer drugs, and our knowledge of its mechanisms is lacking. Several models for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy have been introduced. However, the outcomes of these models differ significantly among laboratories. Our object was to create a model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in rats with cancer. Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Mammary rat metastasis tumor (MRMT-1) cells were implanted subcutaneously in rats. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy was induced by injection of cisplatin once a day for four days. The responses to mechanical and thermal stimuli were examined using von Frey filaments, acetone, and radiant heat. Results: Cisplatin (2 mg/kg/day) produced mechanical allodynia, while it did not induce cold allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia. This dose of cisplatin could work successfully against cancer. Body weight loss was not observed in cisplatin-treated rats, nor were other abnormal behaviors noted in the same rats. Conclusions: Repeated injection of intraperitoneal cisplatin induced peripheral neuropathic pain in rats. Thus, this type of rat model has broad applicability in studies related to searching for the mechanism of cisplatin-induced mechanical allodynia and agents for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.2375-2380
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• 2014

In the present investigation, a series of some novel 1,3-diaryl/heteroarylprop-2-en-1-one derivatives (3a-j) have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines, two hepatocarcinoma cell lines HUH-7, Hep-3b and one leukemia cancer cell line MOLT-4. Based on these results, structure-activity relationship (SAR) was studied on modification of $R^1$ and $R^2$ to identify the compound with maximum potency. Amongst the compounds, 3b and 3d strongly inhibited the growth of Hep-3b and MOLT-4 cells with $IC_{50}$ value of 3.39 and $3.63{\mu}M$ respectively. The results obtained from the inhibitory study had further been supported by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement using flow cytometry in MOLT-4 cells. These observations collectively reveal that compounds comprising 1,3-diarylprop-2-en-1-one framework with pyrazole ring at position-3 and heteroaryl/aryl substituents at position-1 can be used as promising anticancer agents.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.230-234
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• 2007

In anti-cancer therapies, radiotherapy and chemotherapy show a superior inhibition effect on cancer cell growth, but those are very toxic to normal tissues and organs. Particularly, drugs for neutropenia, one of chemotherapy agents, which suppress the function of bone marrow, are needed to be controlled in terms of their dosage and therapy period because of their side effect. Phellinus linteus polysaccharide (PL) has been reported to increase the number of splenocytes and bone marrow cells. PL has been shown to decrease the side effects of cyclophosphamide (CYC) treatment to the cancer patients. PL showed no effects in semisolid clonogenic assay, suggesting that PL doesn't contain substantial compounds to substitute for colony stimulating factors (CSFs). On the other hand, PL increased the expression of SCF, IL-3, GM-CSF, TPO genes. These results indicate that PL may promote the growth and proliferation of splenocytes and bone marrow cells through indirect or CSFs-dependent pathway, which may lead to a hematopoiesis.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.289-291
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• 2013

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the leading cause of cancer mortality among women worldwide. The molecular understanding of HPV proteins has significant connotation for understanding their intrusion in the host and designing novel protein vaccines and anti-viral agents, etc. Genomic, proteomic, structural, and disease-related information on HPV is available on the web; yet, with trivial annotations and more so, it is not well customized for data analysis, host-pathogen interaction, strain-disease association, drug designing, and sequence analysis, etc. We attempted to design an online reserve with comprehensive information on HPV for the end users desiring the same. The Human Papillomavirus Proteome Database (hpvPDB) domiciles proteomic and genomic information on 150 HPV strains sequenced to date. Simultaneous easy expandability and retrieval of the strain-specific data, with a provision for sequence analysis and exploration potential of predicted structures, and easy access for curation and annotation through a range of search options at one platform are a few of its important features. Affluent information in this reserve could be of help for researchers involved in structural virology, cancer research, drug discovery, and vaccine design.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1027-1031
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• 2006

In oriental medicine, Geijibokryunghwan(GBH) was used to improvement various symptoms created by the thrombosis. We investigated the effects of an oriental medicinal prescriptions, Geijibokryunghwan (GBH) consisting of herbs of Cinnamomi Ramufus (Geiji; 桂枝), Poria cocos (Bokrung; 茯?), Moutan Cortex Radicis(Modanpi; 牧丹皮), Paeoniae Radix (Jakyak; 芍藥) and Persicae Semen (Doin; 桃仁) on tumor growth-inhibitory activity and cancer chempreventive activity in assays representing three maior stages of carcinogenesis. Cancer chempreventive agents include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as indomethacin, aspirin, piroxicam, and sulindac, all of which inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX). Effects of the GBH extracts on carrageenan-induced edema Inflammation using female (C57BL/6XC3H) Fl (B6C3Fl ) mice and tumorigenesis were examined. Finally, cyclooxygenase metabolites were determined after extracts treatment. These data suggest that GBH extracts merits investigation as a potential cancer chempreventive agent in humans.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2911-2916
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• 2014

Oxaliplatin is a first-line therapy for colorectal cancer, but cancer cell resistance to the drug compromises its efficacy. To explore mechanisms of drug resistance, we treated colorectal cancer cells (HCT116 and SW620) long-term with oxaliplatin and established stable oxaliplatin-resistant lines (HCT116-OX and SW620-OX). Compared with parental cell lines, $IC_{50}$s for various chemotherapeutic agents (oxaliplatin, cisplatin and doxorubicin) were increased in oxaliplatin-resistant cell lines and this was accompanied by activation of nuclear factor erythroid-2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). Furthermore, luteolin inhibited the Nrf2 pathway in oxaliplatin-resistant cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Luteolin also inhibited Nrf2 target gene [NQO1, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and $GST{\alpha}1/2$] expression and decreased reduced glutathione in wild type mouse small intestinal cells. There was no apparent effect in Nrf2-/- mice. Luteolin combined with other chemotherapeutics had greater anti-cancer activity in resistant cell lines (combined index values below 1), indicating a synergistic effect. Therefore, adaptive activation of Nrf2 may contribute to the development of acquired drug-resistance and luteolin could restore sensitivity of oxaliplatin-resistant cell lines to chemotherapeutic drugs. Inhibition of the Nrf2 pathway may be the mechanism for this restored therapeutic response.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6595-6599
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• 2013

Leptin and its receptor are involved in breast carcinogenesis as mitogenic factors. Therefore, they could be considered as targets for breast cancer therapy. Expression of the leptin receptor gene could be modulated by leptin secretion. Silibinin and curcumin are herbal compounds with anti-cancer activity against breast cancer. The aim of this study was to assess their potential to inhibit of expression of the leptin gene and its receptor and leptin secretion. Cytotoxic effects of the two agents on combination on T47D breast cancer cells was investigated by MTT assay test after 24h treatment. With different concentrations the levels of leptin, leptin receptor genes expression were measured by reverse-transcription real-time PCR. Amount of secreted leptin in the culture medium was determined by ELISA. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA test. The silibinin and curcumin combination inhibited growth of T47D cells in a dose dependent manner. There were also significant difference between control and treated cells in leptin expression and the quantity of secreted leptin with a relative decrease in leptin receptor expression. In conclusion, these herbal compounds inhibit the expression and secretion of leptin and it could probably be used as drug candidates for breast cancer therapy through leptin targeting in the future.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.770-775
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• 2014

The green microalga of the genus Nannochloropsis (class Eustigmatophyceae) is a leading candidate for biofuel production due to its ability to accumulate high oil content (28.7% of cellular ash-free dry weight). We investigated the anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of sterol-rich fraction from nannochloropsis oculata n-hexane (NOH) extract after saponification of the microalga. Among the fractions with n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate, the n-hexane fraction showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage as well as anticancer activity against human leukemia HL-60 cells without the cytotoxity. And the sterol-rich fraction was obtained from the n-hexane fraction by open silica column under the gradient solvent condition with 100% hexane (1L), hexane : ethyl acetate (20 : 1, 10 : 1, 5 : 1, 1 : 1, v/v). Among the four fractions (NOH-1~4), especially NOH-1 contained the highest content of sterols. NOH1 showed the highest HL-60 (about 85%) and NO inhibitory activities at the concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$. These results demonstrated that the sterol-rich fraction from N. oculata might be a useful candidate as anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents for anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity.