• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.173-182
• /
• 2023

Cancer is a global public health issue that becomes the second primary cause of death globally. Considering the side effects of radio- or chemo-therapy, natural phytochemicals are promising alternatives for therapeutic interventions to alleviate the side effects and complications. Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is the main phytochemical extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer with anticancer activity. GRh2 could induce apoptosis and autophagy of cancer cells and inhibit proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. In addition, GRh2 could be used as an adjuvant to chemotherapeutics to enhance the anticancer effect and reverse the adverse effects. Here we summarized the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of GRh2 and proposed future directions to promote the development and application of GRh2.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.28
• /
• pp.8.1-8.5
• /
• 2013

Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Korea for the last 30 years. Cancer patients' 5-year survival rate between 2005 and 2009 was 62.0%, representing a highly advanced standard of care, as much as developed countries in the EU and the US. The Korean government formulated its first 10-year plan for cancer control in 1996 and has been carrying out a second 10-year plan for cancer control since 2006. But despite the Korean government's efforts, the cancer burden in Korea continues to increase. Many separate laws have gone into effect concerning the management of carcinogen exposure. However, there are no integrated regulatory laws or management systems against carcinogen exposure in Korea. Dead zones remain where carcinogen exposure cannot be controlled properly in Korea. In this paper, we suggest the need to establish a national carcinogen list based on international harmonization as a prerequisite for a paradigm shift in cancer control policy from treatment to primary prevention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.19
• /
• pp.8367-8370
• /
• 2014

The relationship between caveolin-1 (Cav-1) and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer is controversial, although Cav-1 plays an important role in tumor metastasis. To evaluate the clinicopathological and prognostic value of expression in patients with gastric cancer, a meta-analysis was performed to investigate the impact on clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in gastric cancer cases. Studies assessing these parameters for Cav-1 in gastric cancer were identified up to June 2014. Finally, a total of six studies met the inclusion criteria. Our combined results showed that Cav-1 expression was significantly associated with the Lauren classification (pooled OR=0.603, 95% CI: 0.381-0.953, P=0.030). Furthermore, we found that Cav-1 expression predicted a better overall survival in gastric cancer patients (pooled OR=0.590, 95% CI: 0.360-0.970, P=0.038, fixed-effect). In conclusion, the overall data of the present meta analysis showed that Cav-1 expression was not correlated with clinicopathological features except for the Lauren classification. Simultaneously, Cav-1 overexpression predicted a better overall survival in gastric cancer. Cav-1 expression in tumors is a candidate positive prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.79-93
• /
• 2022

Objectives: We investigated the isoflavone contained in SH003 and its fractions, and the effect of these components on the inhibition of breast cancer. Methods: The isoflavones in solvent fractions of SH003 extract were identified by UPLC-MS and its contents were quantified using HPLC analysis. The estrogenic activity of SH003 or fractions was assessed by ERE luciferase assay in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 cells. To test the breast cancer inhibitory effect, the cell viability was measured using an MTT assay. Results: In this study, we demonstrated that SH003 and fractions contain 4 isoflavones which are calycosin-7-β-D-glucoside, formononetin-7-β-D-glucoside, calycosin, and formononetin. Despite containing isoflavones, estrogen-dependent transcription activity was not altered by both SH003 and fractions. On the other hand, SH003 and fractions inhibited the cell viability of breast cancer. In addition, its isoflavone components also showed reduced cell viability in various breast cancer cells. Conclusions: Overall, the phytoestrogen included in SH003 and fractions did not influence the estrogenic activity, emphasizing the safety of SH003 and fractions in breast cancer treatment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.360-370
• /
• 2009

Genetic factors clearly play a role in carcinogenesis, but migrant studies provide unequivocal evidence that environmental factors are critical in defining cancer risk. Therefore, one may expect that the lower availability of substrate for biochemical reactions leads to more genetic changes in enzyme function; for example, most studies have indicated the variant MTHFR genotype 677TT is related to biomarkers, such as homocysteine concentrations or global DNA methylation particularly in a low folate diet. The modification of a phenotype related to a genotype, particularly by dietary habits, could support the notion that some of inconsistencies in findings from molecular epidemiologic studies could be due to differences in the populations studied and unaccounted underlying characteristics mediating the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and the actual phenotypes. Given the evidence that diet can modify cancer risk, gene-diet interactions in cancer etiology would be anticipated. However, much of the evidence in this area comes from observational epidemiology, which limits the causal inference. Thus, the investigation of these interactions is essential to gain a full understanding of the impact of genetic variation on health outcomes. This report reviews current approaches to gene-diet interactions in epidemiological studies. Characteristics of gene and dietary factors are divided into four categories: one carbon metabolism-related gene polymorphisms and dietary factors including folate, vitamin B group and methionines; oxidative stress-related gene polymorphisms and antioxidant nutrients including vegetable and fruit intake; carcinogen-metabolizing gene polymorphisms and meat intake including heterocyclic amins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; and other gene-diet interactive effect on cancer.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.437-438
• /
• 2002

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.424-427
• /
• 2022

A retrospective record-linkage study (RLS) based on medical records containing drug prescription histories involves immortal time bias (ITB). Thus, it is necessary to control for this bias in the research planning and analysis stages. Furthermore, a summary of a meta-analysis including RLSs that did not control for ITB showed that specific drugs had a preventive effect on the occurrence of the disease. Previous meta-analytic results of three systematic reviews evaluating the association between statin intake and gastric cancer risk showed that the summary hazard ratio (sHR) of the RLSs was lower than 1 and was statistically significant. We should consider the possibility of ITB in the sHR of RLSs and interpret the results carefully.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.459-471
• /
• 2010

The main behavioural and environmental risk factors for cancer mortality in the world are related to diet and physical inactivity, use of addictive substances, sexual and reproductive health, exposure to air pollution and use of contaminated needles. The population attributable fraction for all cancer sites worldwide considering the joint effect of these factors is about 35% (34 % for low- and middle-income countries and 37% for high-income countries). Seventy-one percent of lung cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use (lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally). The combined effects of tobacco use, low fruit and vegetable intake, urban air pollution, and indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels cause 76% of lung cancer deaths. Exposure to these behavioural and environmental factors is preventable; modifications in lifestyle could have a large impact in reducing the cancer burden worldwide. The evidence of association between lifestyle factors and cancer, as well as the main international recommendations for prevention are briefly reviewed and commented upon here.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.279-288
• /
• 2003

Objectives : Evidence for an effect of rerroductive factors on colorectal carcinogenesis is not yet consistent. Little research has been conducted to investigate whether reproductive factors were associated with colorectal adenomas that are the precursors of colorecta1 cancer, We evaluated the relationships between reproductive factors and the degree of dysplasia of the colorectal adenoma and cancer as colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Methods : For this study, 241 adenoma cases with histopathologically confirmed incident colorectal adenoma, 76 cancer cases with colorectal cancer and 1677 controls were collected from Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, during 1994-1999. Before colonoscopy, information on demographic characteristics, reproductive factors, life style habits and dietary intake were obtained by interviewed questionnaire. Adjusted OR and 95% CI were estimated by using polytomous logistic regression model, Potential confounders that were selected based on the goodness of fit Statistics and interaction between risk factors were considered in this adjustment. The Wald statistic was calculated to test the heterogeneity of the odds ratios for each case. Results .: Postmenopausal women with natural menopause were found to be positively associated with the risk of mild dysplasia adenoma (multivariate-adjusted OR : 2.59, 95% CI=1.1-0.2). Parity was found to be negatively associated with the risk of colorectal lancer (age-adjusted OR : 0.40, 95% CI=0.2-0.9), but did not significantly decrease the risk of colorectal cancer (multivariate-adjusted OR : 0.95, 95% CI=0.3-2.9). Me associations were seen between a9e at menarche, breast feeding, induced abortion, oral contraceptive use, menopausal types, menopausal age or hormone replacement therapy (HRT and the degree of dysplasia of the colorectal adenoma and cancer. However, none of these associations differed' significantly between the degree of dysplasia of the colorectal adenoma and cancer. Conclusions : These findings suggest that postmenopausal women with natural menopause may experience increased risk of mild dysplasia adenorna among colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.25-30
• /
• 2000

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of stage shift according to screening of stomach cancer. Methods : Total 840 cases of stomach cancer patients, undergone a surgical operation at Department of Surgery, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea from Jan. 1989 to Dec. 1995, were reviewed by stomach cancer working sheet, and classified as asymptomatic and symptomatic group based on the presence of subjective symptoms on their hospital visit. Their histopathologic stages were analysed. We compared the histopathologic stages of asymptomatic stomach cancer patients with those of symptomatic patients. Results : From the total of 840 patients, asymptomatic patients group comprised 28 cases (3.3%). Proportion of asymptomatic patients tended to increase from 1.9% in 1990, 0.9% in 1991 to 8.6% in 1995. Proportions of asymptomatic patients by stages were 78.6% (stage I), 3.6% (stage III), 17.9% (stage IV) and that of symptomatic patients by stages were 38.2% (stage I), 16.5% (stage II), 24.8% (stage III), 19.1% (stage IV). In less than 40 years old, 50.5% of symptomatic patients were diagnosed as stage I. With increment of ages, proportions of stage I were makedly decreased. It was significantly different between proportion of early gastric cancer in asymptomatic patients (60.1%) and that in symptomatic patients (25.0%). Conclusions : We confirmed stage shift according to screening of stomach cancer. And proportion of early gastric cancer in asymptomatic patients was higher than that in symptomatic patients. This results suggest that screening of gastric cancer be important to reduce mortality and if be indirectly started from 40 years old.