• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2004

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) playa key role in tumor invasion and metastasis. As an inhibitor of MMP-2, TIMP-2 is known to block both the invasive and metastatic behavior of cancer cells, and decrease tumor growth activity. We performed this study to investigate the effects of TIMP-2 over-expression induced by retroviral mediated gene transfer in vitro and in vivo. The human colon cancer cell line SW480 was transfected with the retroviral vector encoding TIMP-2. The effects of TIMP-2 over-expression were analyzed by invasion assay and gelatinase activity test in colon cancer cells and tumorigencity in nude mice. In evaluation of the transfection efficiency of the retroviral vector encoding TIMP-2 in colon cancer cells, we confirmed up-regulation of TIMP-2 expression dependent on the time of cell culture. In addition, inhibition of MMP-2 expression in SW480/TIMP-2 was shown by gelatin zymography. In the in vitro invasion assay SW480/TIMP-2 inhibited the invasiveness on matrigel coated with collagen. To determine whether TIMP-2 can modulate in vivo tumorigenicity and metastasis, SW480/TIMP-2 cells were injected subcutaneously in nude mice. The tumor mass formation of SW480/TIMP-2 cells in nude mice was markedly decreased compared to nontransfected cancer cells. These results showed that colon cancer cells transfected with the retroviral vector encoding TIMP-2 inhibits the invasiveness in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2019

Cis-3-O-p-hydroxycinnamoyl ursolic acid (HCUA), a triterpenoid compound, was purified from Elaeagnus oldhamii Maxim. This traditional medicinal plant has been used for treating rheumatoid arthritis and lung disorders as well as for its anti-inflammation and anticancer activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-proliferative and apoptotic-inducing activities of HCUA in oral cancer cells. HCUA exhibited anti-proliferative activity in oral cancer cell lines (Ca9-22 and SAS cells), but not in normal oral fibroblasts. The inhibitory concentration of HCUA that resulted in 50% viability was $24.0{\mu}M$ and $17.8{\mu}M$ for Ca9-22 and SAS cells, respectively. Moreover, HCUA increased the number of cells in the sub-G1 arrest phase and apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner in both oral cancer cell lines, but not in normal oral fibroblasts. Importantly, HCUA induced p53-mediated transcriptional regulation of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Bak, Bim, Noxa, and PUMA), which are associated with mitochondrial apoptosis in oral cancer cells via the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. HCUA triggered the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) that was ascertained to be involved in HCUA-induced apoptosis by the ROS inhibitors YCG063 and N-acetyl-L-cysteine. As a result, HCUA had potential antitumor activity to oral cancer cells through eliciting ROS-dependent and p53-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis. Overall, HCUA could be applicable for the development of anticancer agents against human oral cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Daesiho-tang (Da Chai Hu-Tang) water extract (DSTE) in regulating chronic stress-induced cancer progression, focusing on its activity in modulating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Different stimuli can polarize TAMs into immune-stimulating M1 macrophages or immunosuppressive M2 macrophages. During cancer progression, M2 phenotype increases and supports tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Notably, chronic stress-induced catecholamines promote M2 macrophage polarization. In this study, we investigated whether DSTE regulates norepinephrine (NE)-induced M2 macrophage polarization in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells. Even though NE itself did not increase the expression of M2 markers, the conditioned media of NE-treated 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells (NE CM) significantly up-regulated M2 markers in RAW 264.7 cells, suggesting that NE-regulated cancer cell secretome stimulated M2 polarization. However, such increase was abrogated by DSTE. NE CM also induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) in RAW 264.7 cells, which was clearly reversed by pretreatment with DSTE, demonstrating that DSTE inhibited M2 polarization by inactivating STAT6. Finally, M2-polarized RAW264.7 cells by NE CM markedly increased the migration of 4T1 cells. However, such increase was completely reversed by co-treating RAW264.7 cells with NE CM and DSTE, indicating that DSTE attenuated cancer cell migration by blocking M2 polarization. Taken together, our results suggest a probable use of DSTE for cancer patients under chronic stress by regulating M2 macrophage polarization.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.44-58
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• 2013

Objectives: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and has rapidly increasing rate annually. At present, western cancer therapies by surgery, radiation, and anticancer drug have not been fully effective. So many interests are given to herbal medicine on cancer treatment recently. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Curcuma longa L. (CL) on MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and DMBA-induced breast cancer in rats. Methods: In this experiment, MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in cell culture plates. 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mg/ml of CL extract were tested for their anti-proliferative effects on MDA-MB-231 cells by MMT assay. And we induced breast cancer in rats. The changes in tumor's weight, and the effects on proliferations of splenocyte and thymocyte were investigated. Results: CL showed anti-proliferative effects on MDA-MB-231 cells in proportion to concentration of the CL. DMBA-induced breast cancer in rats, tumor's weight of the rat was not statistically significant, but showed a tendency to be reduced in the groups treated with CL. Proliferation rate of the rat's splenocyte and thymocyte increased in proportion to CL. In breast cancer tissue, expression of ER-${\alpha}$ was weakened proportionately to the concentration of the CL. Conclusions: These data suggest that CL can prevent the proliferation of breast cancer, then CL is useful to treat patient with breast cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.591-602
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• 2018

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common type of malignancy worldwide, and the survival rate of patients with advanced-stage gastric cancer is low, even after receiving chemotherapy. Here, we validated neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) as a potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer. We compared NTSR1 expression levels in sixty different gastric cancer-tissue samples and cells, as well as in other cancer cells (lung, breast, pancreatic, and colon), by assessing NTSR1 expression via semi-quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunocytochemistry and western blot. Following neurotensin (NT) treatment, we analyzed the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and further determined the effects on cell migration and invasion via wound-healing and transwell assays. Our results revealed that NTSR1 mRNA levels were higher in gastric cancer tissues than non-cancerous tissues. Both of NTSR1 mRNA levels and expression were higher in gastric cancer cell lines relative to levels observed in other cancer-cell lines. Moreover, NT treatment induced MMP-9 expression and activity in all cancer cell lines, which was significantly decreased following treatment with the NTSR1 antagonist SR48692 or small-interfering RNA targeting NTSR1. Furthermore, NT-mediated metastases was confirmed by observing epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers SNAIL and E-cadherin in gastric cancer cells. NT-mediated invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells were reduced by NTSR1 depletion through the Erk signaling. These findings strongly suggested that NTR1 constitutes a potential therapeutic target for the inhibition of gastric cancer invasion and metastasis.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.212-217
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• 2017

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Many studies show that most cases of human colorectal cancer arise from adenomatous polyps, which are usually dysplastic, nonmalignant precursor lesions; however, accumulation of multiple somatic mutations leads some to develop into advanced adenoma, which ultimately progresses to an invasive colorectal cancer. Notwithstanding the efforts made to improve chemotherapy, most colorectal cancers are unresponsive to this form of treatment, and malignant colorectal cancers remain incurable. To reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer mortality, further studies to improve colorectal cancer treatment are needed. Here, we show that Globefish homogenate suppresses the growth of Caco-2 human colorectal cancer cells, and that the homogenate inhibits Caco-2 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that Globefish homogenate may suppress colorectal cancer development.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 2018

Cancer cells reprogram cellular metabolism to support the malignant features of tumors, such as rapid growth and proliferation. The cancer promoting effects of metabolic reprogramming are found in many aspects: generating additional energy, providing more anabolic molecules for biosynthesis, and rebalancing cellular redox states in cancer cells. Metabolic pathways are considered the pipelines to supply metabolic cofactors of epigenetic modifiers. In this regard, cancer metabolism, whereby cellular metabolite levels are greatly altered compared to normal levels, is closely associated with cancer epigenetics, which is implicated in many stages of tumorigenesis. In this review, we provide an overview of cancer metabolism and its involvement in epigenetic modifications and suggest that the metabolic adaptation leading to epigenetic changes in cancer cells is an important non-genetic factor for tumor progression, which cooperates with genetic causes. Understanding the interaction of metabolic reprogramming with epigenetics in cancers may help to develop novel or highly improved therapeutic strategies that target cancer metabolism.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.847-854
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• 2016

The early landmark discoveries in cancer metabolism research have uncovered metabolic processes that support rapid proliferation, such as aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect), glutaminolysis, and increased nucleotide biosynthesis. However, there are limitations to the effectiveness of specifically targeting the metabolic processes which support rapid proliferation. First, as other normal proliferative tissues also share similar metabolic features, they may also be affected by such treatments. Secondly, targeting proliferative metabolism may only target the highly proliferating "bulk tumor" cells and not the slowergrowing, clinically relevant cancer stem cell subpopulations which may be required for an effective cure. An emerging body of research indicates that altered metabolism plays key roles in supporting proliferation-independent functions of cancer such as cell survival within the ischemic and acidic tumor microenvironment, immune system evasion, and maintenance of the cancer stem cell state. As these aspects of cancer cell metabolism are critical for tumor maintenance yet are less likely to be relevant in normal cells, they represent attractive targets for cancer therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.201-208
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• 2013

Objective: To investigate changes in the invasive capacity of gastric cancer cells in vitro after expression inhibition of T lymphoma invasion and metastasis inducing factor 1 (Tiam 1) and underlying mechanisms. Methods: Using adhesion selection, two subpopulations with high ($M_H$) or low ($M_L$) invasive capacity were separated from the human gastric cancer cell line MKN-45 ($M_0$). Tiam 1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) was transfected into $M_H$ cells with liposomes, and expression of Tiam 1 mRNA and protein was determined by RT-PCR and quantitative cellular-ELISA. Changes in the cytoskeleton, invasive capacity in vitro and expression of ras-related $C_3$ botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac 1), integrin ${\beta}1$ and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP 2) between Tiam 1 ASODN transfected $M_H$ cells and non-transfected cells were observed by HE staining, cytoskeletal protein staining, scanning electron microscopy, Boyden chamber tests and cyto-immunohistochemistry. Results: A positive correlation existed between the expression level of Tiam l mRNA or protein and the invasion capacity of gastric cancer cells. After ASODN treatment ($0.43{\mu}M$ for 48 h), Tiam 1 mRNA transcription and protein expression in $M_H$ cells were decreased by 80% and 24% respectively (P < 0.05), compared with untreated controls, while invasive capacity in vitro was suppressed by 60% (P < 0.05). Morphologic and ultrastructural observation also showed that ASODN-treated $M_H$ cells exhibited smooth surfaces with obviously reduced filopodia and microspikes, which resembled $M_0$ and $M_L$ cells. Additionally, cytoskeletal distribution dramatically altered from disorder to regularity with reduced long filament-like structure, projections, pseudopodia on cell surface, and with decreased acitn-bodies in cytoplasm. After Tiam 1 ASODN treatment, the expression of Rac 1 and Integrin ${\beta}1$ in $M_H$ cells was not affected (P > 0.05), but that of MMP 2 in $M_H$ cells was significantly inhibited compared with untreated cells (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Over-expression of Tiam-1 contributes to the invasive phenotype of gastric cancer cells. Inhibition of Tiam 1 expression could impair the invasive capacity of gastric cancer cells through modulating reconstruction of the cytoskeleton and regulating expression of MMP 2.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.281-288
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• 2017

Purpose: The serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level has been recognized as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer, and associated with response of rectal cancer to radiotherapy. This study aimed to identify CEA-interacting proteins in colon cancer cells and observe post-irradiation changes in their expression. Materials and Methods: CEA expression in colon cancer cells was examined by Western blot analysis. Using an anti-CEA antibody or IgG as a negative control, immunoprecipitation was performed in colon cancer cell lysates. CEA and IgG immunoprecipitates were used for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Proteins identified in the CEA immunoprecipitates but not in the IgG immunoprecipitates were selected as CEA-interacting proteins. After radiation treatment, changes in expression of CEA-interacting proteins were monitored by Western blot analysis. Results: CEA expression was higher in SNU-81 cells compared with LoVo cells. The membrane localization of CEA limited the immunoprecipitation results and thus the number of CEA-interacting proteins identified. Only the Ras-related protein Rab-6B and lysozyme C were identified as CEA-interacting proteins in LoVo and SNU-81 cells, respectively. Lysozyme C was detected only in SNU-81, and CEA expression was differently regulated in two cell lines; it was down-regulated in LoVo but up-regulated in SNU-81 in radiation dosage-dependent manner. Conclusion: CEA-mediated radiation response appears to vary, depending on the characteristics of individual cancer cells. The lysozyme C and Rab subfamily proteins may play a role in the link between CEA and tumor response to radiation, although further studies are needed to clarify functional roles of the identified proteins.