• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.58-65
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• 2015

Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer and its incidence is gradually increasing worldwide. Patients with metastatic melanoma have a very poor prognosis (estimated 5-year survival rate of <16%). In the last few years, several drugs have been approved for malignant melanoma, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint blockades. Although new therapeutic agents have improved progression-free and overall survival, their use is limited by drug resistance and drug-related toxicity. At the same time, adoptive cell therapy of metastatic melanoma with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes has shown promising results in preclinical and clinical studies. In this review, we summarize the currently available drugs for treatment of malignant melanoma. In addition, we suggest cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells as another candidate approach for adoptive cell therapy of melanoma. Our preclinical study and several previous studies have shown that CIK cells have potent anti-tumor activity against melanomas in vitro and in an in vivo human tumor xenograft model without any toxicity.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.185-191
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• 2008

While indirect targeting strategies using reporter-genes are taking center stage in current molecular imaging research, another vital strategy has long involved direct imaging of specific receptors using radiolabeled ligands. Recently, there is renewal of immense interest in this area with particular attention to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a transmembrane glycoprotein critically involved in the regulation of many cellular functions and malignancies. Recently, two novel classes of EGFR-targeting anticancer drugs have entered clinical trials with great expectations. These are monoclonal antibodies such as cetuximab that target the extracellular domain, and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as gefitinib (lressa) and erlotinib (Tarceva) that target the catalytic domain of the receptor. However, early results have showed disappointing survival benefits, disclosing a major challenge for this therapeutic strategy; namely, the need to identify tumors that are most likely to respond to the agents. To address this important clinical issue, several noninvasive imaging techniques are under investigation including radiolabeled probes based on small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, anti-EGFR antibodies, and EGF peptides. This review describes the current status, limitations, and future prospects in the development of radiotracer methods for EGFR imaging.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.73-78
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• 2001

After examining and analysing the medicinal herbs of fifty-three experimental papers, we studied their effects on immediate tumors in specific cancers. We did not study the influence on the life span of general cancerous cells. We looked to see if the combined usage of medicinal herbs and anticancer agents inhibited the tumor cell's growth. The serum test and blood cell count test showed if the medicinal herbs inhibited the side effects of the anticancer agent. The test showed that more than 80 percent of used medicinal herbs, brought anticancer activities. However, anticancer experimental studies using medicinal herbs have draw-backs. First, it is difficult to choose a prescription using the standards of Oriental Medicine because we are testing a mouse not a man. Second, because we only observed the indirect effect on the whole physiological regulation caused by the synergic effects of the complex prescription, we are not able to understand the detailed mechanism of the herbs. Therefore; if the anticancer effect of the herbs is proved by the experiment, we need to research the concrete medical action of medicinal herbs and the immunological analysis of herbal medicines on the body.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2007

Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in innate immune system and tumor surveillance. NK cells are derived from $CD34^+$hematopoietic stem cells and undergo differentiation via precursor NK cells in bone marrow (BM) through sequential acquisition of functional surface receptors. During differentiation of NK cells, many factors are involved including cytokines, membrane factors and transcription factors as well as microenvironment of BM. NK cells express their own repertoire of receptors including activating and inhibitory receptors that bind to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or class I-related molecules. The balance between activating and inhibitory receptors determines the function of NK cells to kill targets. Binding of NK cell inhibitory receptors to their MHC class I-ligand renders the target cells to be protected from NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Thus, NK cells are able to discriminate self from non-self through MHC class I-binding inhibitory receptor. Using intrinsic properties of NK cells, NK cells are emerging to apply as therapeutic agents against many types of cancers. Recently, NK cell alloactivity has also been exploited in killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor mismatched haploidentical stem cell transplantation to reduce the rate of relapse and graft versus host disease. In this review, we discuss the basic mechanisms of NK cell differentiation, diversity of NK cell receptors, and clinical applications of NK cells for anti-cancer immunotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.139-145
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• 2004

Objectives : Inhibition of phase I enzymes such as cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 or 1A2 is considered a major mechanism of protection against initiation of carcinogenesis. The inhibition of toxic enzymes and CYP were studied with so many oriental herbral medicine. Recently, numerous polysaccharides and polysaccharide-protein complexes have been isolated from mushrooms and used as a source of therapeutic agents. The most promising biopharmacological activities of these polymers are their immunomodulation and anti cancer. But, in this study the inhibitory effect was on the aqua-acupuncture of Lentinus edodes. Materials : Lentinus edodes aqua-acupuncture solution (LEAS) was prepared and tested for the inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 and 1A2 activities. LEAS type I from fruit body of these mushrooms. Type II was extracted from cultured broth of Lentinus edodes mycelum. Results : LEAS type I and type II were significantly inhibited CYP 1A1 and 1A2 enzymes at concentration of 5.0 and 10.0 mg/ml. Conclusion : These results suggested that LEAS may act as block agent against carcinogenesis by inhibition of phase I enzymes.

• 생약학회지
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.118-122
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• 2009

Methanol extracts of Orostachys japonicus A. Berger (OAB) were found to exhibit apoptosis induction of HL60 human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells. Treatment of OAB exerted strong cytotoxicity against HL60 cells. OAB induced DNA fragmentation of HL60 cells in a dose dependent manner. Nitric oxide production were also increased in OAB-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cell lines. Treatment of OAB increased the expression of p53 and iNOS gene and the expression of p53, $NF-{\kappa}B$ and iNOS protein in cultured HL60 and RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that OAB are effective on strong anti-cancer properties and can be useful as a chemo-preventive agents.

• 비만대사연구학술지
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.66-73
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• 2022

Obesity is an increasing public health and medical issue worldwide. It has been associated with several comorbidities, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is another important comorbidity of obesity. Other major causes of CKD include hypertension and diabetes. However, the association between obesity and CKD is often overlooked. Among patients with CKD, patients with obesity were more vulnerable to have rapid kidney function decline than that of those with normal weight. Additionally, CKD is more prevalent among patients with obesity. These aggravations are induced through multiple mechanisms, specifically metabolic impairment of obesity and mechanical burden because of increasing intraabdominal renal pressure. Furthermore, the inflammation and lipotoxicity, caused by obesity, are critical in the CKD aggravation in patients with obesity. To prevent this, all adult patients with obesity are tested for CKD. The workup includes the estimated glomerular filtration rate and regular follow-up. Step-wise management is required for patients with obesity with CKD. Prompt reduction and management of obesity effectively delay CKD progression among patients with obesity and CKD. Therefore, weight loss is a core management for patients with obesity and CKD. Based on several studies, this article focused on the association between CKD and obesity, as well as the diagnosis and weight management of patients with obesity and CKD.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제6권5호
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• pp.312-317
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• 1985

${\beta}$-Glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31) which hydrolizes D-glucuronate from ${\beta}$-D-glucuronide was purified from rat liver, using ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Concanavalin-A Sepharose 4B chromatography and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. This enzyme has the molecular weight of 280,000 daltons by gel filtration and 75,000 daltons by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. As its funtion is reverse of detoxification in the liver, the inhibition of the enzyme was tested with extracts of several food products and medicinal herbs, some are known as anti-cancer agents. Among them, Panax ginseng and Cortnellus shiiake inhibited the enzyme competitively and the $K_1$ values were $9.22 {\times}\;10^{-2}$ and 0.102 mg/ml, respectively. These inhibitors strongly bound to DEAE-cellulose. The negatively charged amino acids, L-aspartate and L-glutamate, inhibited the enzyme, and $K_1$ value of L-aspartate was 0.80 mM. The interaction between ${\beta}$-glucuronidase and p-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-D-glucuronide was found to involve ionic forces by the effect of ionic strength on the kinetic constant, Vmax/Km. It was inferred from these findings that cationic group at the active center of the enzyme is probably involved in attacking the substrate.

• 한국식품위생안전성학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.202-206
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• 2013

악성도가 높은 점액표피양 암종은 치료가 어렵고 5년 생존률이 매우 낮다. 따라서, 새로운 치료 물질과 분자표적을 찾는 것이 필요하다. Betulinic acid (BA)는 세계적으로 쉽게 얻을 수 있는 물질인 동시에 여러 종류의 종양에서 항암효과를 보인다. 또한 여러 정상 조직은 BA에 저항성을 보인다. 이 연구에서는 BA의 증식억제 효능과 MC-3 세포주에서의 분자 표적을 확인하고자 하였다. BA는 MC-3 세포주에서 세포 생존을 저해하였고 세포사멸을 유도하였다. BA는 Sp 1과 그의 하향 분자 표적인 survivin에 영향을 주었으나, 다른 하향 분자 표적인 Mcl-1에서는 유의한 변화를 일으키지 못하였다. 따라서, BA는 Sp1과 survivin을 조절하여 세포사멸을 일으키는 잠재적인 항암제 후보가 될 수 있을 것이라 사료된다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.328-333
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• 2008

A variety of anti-inflammatory agents have been shown to exert chemopreventive activity via targeting of transcription factors such as NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1. Lithospermum erythrorhizon (LE) has long been used in traditional oriental medicine. In this study, we demonstrated the inhibitory effects of LE extracts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated production of inflammatory cytokines. As an underlying mechanism of inhibition, LE extracts reduced LPS-induced transactivation of AP-1 as well as NF-${\kappa}B$ in mouse macrophage cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that LE extracts inhibited the DNA binding activities of AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$. In addition, phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ protein was suppressed by LE extracts. Moreover, LE extracts inhibited c-Jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated signaling pathways. Our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of LE extracts may be mediated by the inhibition of signal transduction pathways that normally lead to the activation of AP-1and NF-${\kappa}B$. These inhibitory effects may be useful for chemoprevention of cancer or other chronic inflammatory diseases.