• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.255-259
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• 2003

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in various immune responses involving $CD4^+$ T cells and have been used to generate anti-tumor immunity. Chemotherapy induces severe side effects including immunosuppression in patients with cancer. Although immunosuppression has been studied, the effects of anticancer drugs on DCs are not fully determined. In this study, we demonstrated that CD40 activation strongly protected DCs from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or mitomycin C-induced apoptosis. DCspecific surface markers, including CD11c and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, were used for identifying DCs. CD 40 activation with anti-CD40 mAb significantly enhanced the viability of DCs treated with 5-FU or mitomycin C, assayed by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide). Fluorescence staining and analysis clearly confirmed the enhancing effect of anti-CD40 mAb on the viability of DCs, suggesting that CD40 activation may transduce critical signals for the viability of DCs. Annexin V staining assay showed that CD40 significantly protected DCs from 5-FU or mitomycin C-induced apoptosis. Taken together, this study shows that CD40 activation with anti-CD40 mAb has strong anti-apoptosis effect on DCs, suggesting that CD40 activation may overcome the immunosuppression, especially downregulation of number and function of DCs in chemotherapy-treated cancer patients.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.381-386
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• 2011

Multi-drug resistance (MDR) has been known as a major hurdle in cancer chemotherapy. One of the most clinically significant causes of MDR was the efflux of anticancer agents mediated by p-glycoprotein (p-gp) over-expressed in MDR cancer cells. To overcome MDR, there have been several strategies such as co-administration with p-gp inhibitors and encapsulation of anticancer drugs into drug delivery systems. In the present study, curcumin was evaluated for its potential as p-gp inhibitor and MDR reversal activity when combined with paclitaxel incorporated into lipid nanoparticles (PTX/LN). Western blot assay showed curcumin did not modulate the level of p-gp expression in MCF-7/ADR which is a MDR variant of human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, and over-expresses p-gp. However, curcumin inhibited p-gp-mediated efflux of calcein in a dose-dependent manner even though it showed lower activity compared to verapamil, a well-known p-gp inhibitor. Incorporation of paclitaxel into lipid nanoparticles partially recovered the anticancer activity of paclitaxel in MCF-7/ADR. The combined use of curcumin and PTX/LN exhibited further full reversal of MDR, suggesting susceptibility of PTX/LN to the efflux system. In conclusion, combined approach of using p-gp inhibitors and incorporation of the anticancer agents into nano-delivery systems would be an efficient strategy to overcome MDR.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.263-269
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• 2007

Chitosan is a depolymerized and partially deacetylated derivative of chitin. We investigated the cytotoxicity of chitosan in cancer cell lines, such as P388, L1210, HCT-15, SK-HepG-1 and mouse splenocytes as a normal cell by MTT assay. To clarify whether chitosan enhances cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs, we also examined the cytotoxicity of combined treatment with chitosan and anticancer drugs, such as cisplatin, mitomycin C, and 5-fluorouracil in cancer cell lines in vitro. Chitosan ($37.5\;{\mu}g/mL,\;75\;{\mu}g/mL,\;112.5\;{\mu}g/mL,\;and\;150\;{\mu}g/mL$) showed concentration-dependent cytotoxicity in the cancer cell lines. In addition, chitosan showed relatively lower cytotoxicity in normal cells than in the cancer cell lines. Particularly, this trend was significant at high doses of chitosan, i.e. $112.5\;{\mu}g/mL,\;and\;150\;{\mu}g/mL$. Thus, these results suggest that chitosan may selectively induce the growth inhibition in cancer cell lines, compared to normal cells. Furthermore. the co-treatment of chitosan and anticancer drugs exhibited an apparant synergistic cytotoxicity in murine lymphoma cell lines, i.e. P388 and L1210 at $37.5\;{\mu}g/mL$ of chitosan rather than at $75\;{\mu}g/mL$ of chitosan, but such phenomenon could not be observed in solid tumor cell lines, i.e. HCT-15 and SK-HepG-1. However, chitosan did'nt reduced the cytotoxicity against normal mouse splenocytes induced by anticancer drugs. Therefore, it is concluded that the combination of chitosan and anticancer drugs might be useful for the cancer chemotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.30.1-30.8
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• 2023

Metformin is a treatment used widely for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with few side effects and acts by inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis and glucose absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Lymphoma is one of the most common hematological malignancies in dogs. Chemotherapy is used mainly on lymphoma, but further research on developing anticancer drugs for lymphoma is needed because of its severe side effects. This study examined the anticancer effects of metformin alone and in combination with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a glucose analog, on EL4 cells (mouse T cell lymphoma). Metformin reduced the metabolic activity of EL4 cells and showed an additive effect when combined with 2-DG. In addition, cell death was confirmed using a trypan blue exclusion test, Hochest 33342/propidium iodide (PI) staining, and Annexin V/PI staining. An analysis of the cell cycle and mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) to investigate the mechanism of action showed that metformin stopped the G2/M phase of EL4 cells, and metformin + 2-DG decreased MMP. Metformin exhibited anticancer effects as a G2/M phase arrest mechanism in EL4 cells and showed additive effects when combined with 2-DG via MMP reduction. Unlike cytotoxic chemotherapeutic anticancer drugs, metformin and 2-DG are related to cellular glucose metabolism and have little toxicity. Therefore, metformin and 2-DG can be an alternative to reduce the toxicity caused by chemotherapeutic anticancer drugs. Nevertheless, research is needed to verify the in vivo efficacy of metformin and 2-DG before they can be used in lymphoma treatments.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.303-316
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• 2020

Objectives: The nutritional status of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy is closely related to the compliance of nutrition education. However, as chemotherapy is conducted repeatedly, compliance with nutrition management is lowered, leading to malnutrition. Malnutrition is related directly to the quality of life after surgery in cancer patients. Therefore, this study examined the factors related to compliance with nutrition management during chemotherapy. Methods: In this study, five subjects with colorectal cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy were interviewed in-depth using the Giorgi study method. The contents of the nutrition education visits and in-depth interviews were transcribed in the language of the subject after recording, and the appropriateness of the data was improved by reflecting the subject's actions and facial expressions. Results: After conducting the in-depth interviews for each subject, the experience of the subject's diet and adjuvant chemotherapy was drawn into two domains, six elements, and 26 sub-elements. In the cognitive domain, the patients experienced physical and psychological changes, and the need for nutrition management was recognized by analyzing the dietary causes of the diseases. In the domain of practice, a knowing-doing gap was formed, unlike the patient's will. Factors that inhibited compliance with nutritional management included digestive problems, sensory changes, loss of appetite, and social interaction stress. Conclusions: Dietary management is very important for patients receiving periodic anticancer therapy, and step-by-step training and personal monitoring based on the chemotherapy order is necessary to maintain the patient's will and social and environmental support.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.169-174
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• 2015

Cervical cancer (CxCa) is the most common cancer in women and a prominent cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The primary cause of CxCa is human papillomavirus (HPV). Radiation therapy and chemotherapy have been used as standard treatments, but they have undesirable side effects for patients. It was reported that gallic acid has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. Gold nanoparticles are currently being used in medicine as biosensors and drug delivery agents. This study aimed to develop a drug delivery agent using gold nanoparticles conjugated with gallic acid. The study was performed in uninfected (C33A) cervical cancer cells, cervical cancer cells infected with HPV type 16 (CaSki) or 18 (HeLa), and normal Vero kidney cells. The results showed that GA inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. To enhance the efficacy of this anticancer activity, 15-nm spherical gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were used to deliver GA to cancer cells. The GNPs-GA complex had a reduced ability compared to unmodified GA to inhibit the growth of CxCa cells. It was interesting that high-concentration ($150{\mu}M$) GNPs-GA was not toxic to normal cells, whereas GA alone was cytotoxic. In conclusion, GNPs-GA could inhibit CxCa cell proliferation less efficiently than GA, but it was not cytotoxic to normal cells. Thus, gold nanoparticles have the potential to be used as phytochemical delivery agents for alternative cancer treatment to reduce the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.720-730
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• 2000

Malnutrition is a common problem in cancer patients. In addition anticancer drugs used in chemotherapy as a major therapeutic mode are famous as the side effect like nausea, vomiting, which lead the patients to malnourished state. This study was to determine the relationship of anorexia, nausea, vomiting and oral intake and identify the influence these side effects on the nutritional status in patients receiving chemotherapy. To assess the nutritional status, anthropometry such as weight, height, body mass index(BMI), body fat proportion, and triceps skinfold thickness, and biochemistry test such as hemoglobin and lymphocyte were measured at the pre- and post- chemotherapy and the readmission time, all three times. During chemotherapy, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting using a VAS or 5-point scale and 24 hour oral intake using a food record were measured daily. Forty-nine patients knowing their diagnosis and receiving chemotherapy were recruited from an oncological ward in a general hospital for 5 months and they were reduced 31 at readmission time for a next chemotherapy. The results were as follows. Most subjects (93.6%) were in the 4th stage of cancer and 57.1% of subjects were in the first or the second chemotherapy. In most subjects(82.6%), their weight was decreased 10.7% than as usual. The degree of anorexia, nausea, and vomiting was significantly higher and the amount of oral intake was significantly less during the chemotherapy than at the pre-chemotherapy. Weight, BMI, triceps skinfold were reduced more at the post- chemotherapy than the pre-chemotherapy and were recovered the nearly same but less level at the readmission time. Body fat proportion was increased at the post chemotherapy and then decreased at the readmission phase. Hemoglobin and the number of lymphocyte were below normal at the pre-chemotherapy and more reduced at the readmission time. Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting were related positively and oral intake was negatively related with nausea and vomiting. The nutritional status at the post- chemotherapy and the readmission time was explained 20% over by the side effect like anorexia, nausea, vomiting and oral intake during the chemotherapy. The significant nutrition predictors at the post- chemotherapy were vomiting and the significant predictors at the readmission time were anorexia, vomiting, and oral intake. These results indicated the patients receiving chemotherapy were continued to deteriorate the nutritional status. Therefore nurse should have knowledge how much the nutritional status can be affected and assess the nutritional status periodically and try to find out the intervention for side effects from the series of chemotherapies.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.165-174
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• 2005

Objective : The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitor effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens on the hepatic and renal side effects of chemotherapy by using B16-BL6 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Methods : In this study, the effects of an traditional oriental herb, Sophora flavescens, on the side effects of chemotherapy were studied using B16 melanoma-injected C57BL6 mouse tumor model. Results : Sophora flavescen has significant effect on the reduction of the side effects of chemotherapy. Sophora flavescen recovered the reduction of WBC and RBC during cisplatin chemotherapy. Water extract of Sophora flavescens significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced increase of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) which is a good indicator of renal toxicity. Sophora flavescens extract does not decrease the anti-tumor activity of cisplatin showing that it can selectively inhibit side effects of anticancer drugs preserving beneficial effort. Conclusion : Theses results suggest a possibility that Sophora flavescens extract can be used for cancer patients for the reduction of the side effects and improving the quality of life during chemotherapy of cancer patients.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.365-369
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• 2000

Oral mucositis or stomatitis produced by stomatotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy are painful, restrict oral intake and, importantly, act as sites of secondary infection and potals of entry for the endogenous oral microflora often leading to bacteremias or sepsis. A number of clinical observations and studies of animal model suggests a pathophysiological complexity in the development of mucositis. The condition appears to represent a sequential interaction of the oral mucosal cells and tissues, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and local environmental factors in the mouth. This article discussed and reviewed biological process of the mucositis and, the role of cytokines as initiators and amplifiers of the process. The recognition that the pathophysiology of mucositis is a multifactorial process has presented opportunities for intervention based upon biological attenuation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1885-1887
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• 2014

Skin metastases of breast cancer are usually late events in the course of tumor progression and signify a poor prognosis. They may remain as a therapeutic challenge especially after failure of standard treatments. Topical interventions, together with or without radiotherapy, may only palliate the symptoms temporarily. However, there may be alternative treatment modalities for unresectable breast cancer skin metastases resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There are various genetic alterations in tumors and therapeutic potential of expression patterns for factors like epidermal growth factor receptor may have important clinical implications in case of disease refractory to the conventional treatments. Here, we clarified the therapeutic options and genetic alterations in skin metastatic breast cancer patients refractory to standard chemotherapeutics.