• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.86-92
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• 2012

The glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. Despite combination treatments of radiation and chemotherapy, the survival periods are very short. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the potential of ginsenoside $F_2$ (F2) to treat GBM. In in vitro experiments with glioblastoma cells U373MG, F2 showed the cytotoxic effect with $IC_{50}$ of 50 ${\mu}g/mL$ through apoptosis, confirmed by DNA condensation and fragmentation. The cell population of cell cycle sub-G1 as indicative of apoptosis was also increased. In xenograft model in SD rats, F2 at dosage of 35 mg/kg weight was intravenously injected every two days. This reduced the tumor growth in magnetic resonance imaging images. The immunohistochemistry revealed that the anticancer activity might be mediated through inhibition of proliferation judged by Ki67 and apoptosis induced by activation of caspase-3 and -8. And the lowered expression of CD31 showed the reduction in blood vessel densities. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 for invasion of cancer was also inhibited. The cell populations with cancer stem cell markers of CD133 and nestin were reduced. The results of this study suggested that F2 could be a new potential chemotherapeutic drug for GBM treatment by inhibiting the growth and invasion of cancer.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.296-306
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• 2014

There is growing evidence that crosstalk between mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells and stromal microenvironments, such as bone marrow and secondary lymphoid tissues, promotes tumor progression by enhancing survival and growth as well as drug resistance of MCL cells. Recent advances in the understanding of lymphoma microenvironment have led to the identification of crucial factors involved in the crosstalk and subsequent generation of their targeted agents. In the present study, we evaluated the combinatory effect of blocking antibodies (Ab) targeting CXCR4 and VLA-4, both of which were known to play significant roles in the induction of environment-mediated drug resistance (EMDR) in MCL cell line, Jeko-1. Simultaneous treatment with anti-CXCR4 and anti-VLA-4 Ab not only reduced the migration of Jeko-1 cells into the protective stromal cells, but also enhanced sensitivity of Jeko-1 to a chemotherapeutic agent to a greater degree than with either Ab alone. These combinatorial effects were associated with decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, AKT and NF-${\kappa}B$. Importantly, drug resistance could not be overcome once the adhesion of Jeko-1 to the stromal occurred despite the combined use of Abs, suggesting that the efforts to mitigate migration of MCLs should be attempted as much as possible. Our results provide a basis for a future development of therapeutic strategies targeting both CXCR4 and VLA-4, such as Ab combinations or bispecific antibodies, to improve treatment outcomes of MCL with grave prognosis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.277-288
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• 2005

There is a potential role of collagenase-3 in alveolar bone loss and periodontal disease progression, we need to develope or find chemotherapeutic drugs or herbal agents which may regulate the expression of MMP-13. Ginseng saponin, one of the major components of Korea ginseng(panax ginseng) root, has many various biologic effects, such as cytotoxic effect, tumoricidal effects, cytokine regulations, and protein biosynthesis effect. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Korea red ginseng saponin on MMP-13 gene expression in osteoblasts. The experimental groups were cultured with ginseng saponin in concentration of 1.0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 and $500{\mu}g/ml$ for MTT assay. Primary rat calvarial cells were pre-treated for 1 hour with ginseng saponin(100 ${\mu}g/ml$) and then stimulated with $IL-1{\beta}(1.0ng/ml)$ and PTH(10 nM). MMP-13 gene expression was evaluated by RT-PCR. The results were as follows: Ginseng saponin was cytotoxic to osteoblast at concentration exceeding $250{\mu}g/ml$ for longer than 24 hours in tissue culture(p<0.01). In RT-PCR analysis, steady state MMP-13 mRNA levels were increased approximately 350% by $IL-1{\beta}$, and 400% by PTH when normalized to untreated control. $IL-1{\beta}-indued$ MMP-13 mRNA expression was reduced 50% by pretreatment with ginseng saponin. But ginseng saponin didn't inhibit MMP-13 expression from PTH stimulated cells. This results suggest that ginseng saponin Inhibit $IL-1{\beta}-indued$ MMP-13 mRNA expression.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1437-1449
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• 2007

In this study, the effect of extract of Corydalis yanhusuo (ECT) used in Oriental medicine therapy was investigated on the cell growth and apoptosis of HepG2 human hepatoma cells. It was found that ECT could inhibit the cell growth effectively in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with morphological change and apoptotic cell death such as formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase. And we observed the effects of ECT on loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), using the JC-1 probe by DNA flow cytometric analysis. Apoptosis of HepG2 cells by ECT was associated with a down-regulation of anti apoptotic Bcl-2 expression, inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) expression and proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. However, ECT did not affect the pro-apoptotic Bax expression and activity of caspase-8. ECT treatment also concomitant degradation and /or inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), phospholipase C-1 ($PLC{\gamma}1$). Furthermore, ECT treatment caused a dose-dependent inhibition of iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2). Additionally ECT have been implicated in the regulation of telomerase expression. ECT treatment induced the down-regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA (hTERT) expression of HepG2 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that ECT may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of HepG2 human hepatoma cells.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.27
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• pp.10.1-10.7
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• 2012

Objectives: In recent years, a number of structurally diverse Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been identified and these HDAC inhibitors induce growth arrest, differentiation and/or apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This study aimed at investigating the antitumor activity of newly synthesized HDAC inhibitor, 3-(4-dimethylamino phenyl)-N-hydroxy-2-propenamide (IN-2001) using human breast cancer cells. Methods: We have synthesized a new HDAC inhibitor, IN-2001, and cell proliferation inhibition assay with this chemical in estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Cell cycle analysis on MCF-7 cells treated with IN-2001 was carried out by flow cytometry and gene expression was measured by RT-PCR. Results: In MCF-7 cells IN-2001 showed remarkable anti-proliferative effects in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In MCF-7 cells, IN-2001 showed a more potent growth inhibitory effect than that of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid. These growth inhibitory effects were related to the cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. IN-2001 showed accumulation of cells at $G_2$/M phase and of the sub-$G_1$ population in a time-dependent manner, representing apoptotic cells. IN-2001-mediated cell cycle arrest was associated with HDAC inhibitor-mediated induction of CDK inhibitor expression. In MCF-7 cells, IN-2001 significantly increased $p21^{WAF1}$ expression. Conclusions: In summary, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) induced growth inhibition, possibly through modulation of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory proteins, such as CDK inhibitors, and cyclins. Taken together, these results provide an insight into the utility of HDAC inhibitors as a novel chemotherapeutic regime for hormone-sensitive and insensitive breast cancer.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.670-679
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• 2002

1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU, carmustine) is one of the effective chemotherapeutic agents which has been used clinically for treating malignant glioma. Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA, molecular weight: 20000 g/mole. mole ratio of lactide to glycolide 75 : 15) is a well known biodegradable polymer used as a drug carrier for drug delivery system. In this study, we investigated the BCNU release behaviour of BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers containing poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) or polyethyleneoxide (PEO) and the effect of hydrophilic polymers incoporated in the wafers. BCNU-loaded PLGA microparticles with or without hydrophilic polymers were prepared by a spray drying method and fabricated into wafers by direct compression. Encapsulation efficiency of BCNU-loaded PLGA microparticles containing PVP and PEO was 85 ∼ 97% and crystallinity of BCNU encapsulated in PLGA decreased significantly initial release amount and release rate of BCNU increased with the increasing PVP or PEO amount. Morphological change and mass loss of wafers during the release test were confirmed that hydration and degradation of PLGA would be facilitated with an increase of hydrophilic polymers.

• Annals of Coloproctology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.312-316
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• 2018

Purpose: Anemia is associated with poor treatment results for a variety of cancers. The effect of low hemoglobin levels on long-term outcomes after the treatment of patients with an anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remains unclear. For that reason, this study aimed to investigate the effect of anemia on treatment outcomes following chemoradiation for an anal SCC. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent curative treatment for an anal SCC between 2009 and 2015 at 2 trusts in the United Kingdom. Data were collated from prospectively collected cancer databases and were cross-checked with operating-room records and records in the hospitals' patient management systems. Results: We identified 103 patients with a median age of 63 years (range, 36-84 years). The median overall survival was 39 months (range, 9-90 months), and the disease-free survival was 36 months (range, 2-90 months). During the follow-up period, 16.5% patients died and 13.6% patients developed recurrence. Twenty-two people were anemic prior to treatment, with a female preponderance (20 of 22). No differences in disease-free survival (P = 0.74) and overall survival (P = 0.12) were noted between patients with anemia and those with normal hemoglobin levels. On regression the analysis, the combination of anemia, the presence of a defunctioning colostomy, lymph-node involvement and higher tumor stage correlated with poor overall survival. Conclusion: In this study, anemia did not influence disease-free survival or overall survival. We suggest that the interaction between anemia and survival is more complex than previously demonstrated and potentially reliant on other coexisting factors.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.214-219
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• 2019

The role of tumor-proximal factors in tumor plasticity during chemoresistance and metastasis following chemotherapy is well studied. However, the role of endothelial cell (EC) derived paracrine factors in tumor plasticity, their effect on chemotherapeutic outcome, and the mechanism by which these paracrine factors modulate the tumor microenvironment are not well understood. In this study, we report a novel mechanism by which endothelial miR-125a and let-7e-mediated regulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling can manipulate vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We found that endothelial IL-6 levels were significantly higher in response to cisplatin treatment, whereas levels of IL-6 upon cisplatin exposure remained unchanged in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. We additionally found an inverse correlation between IL-6 and miR-125a/let-7e expression levels in cisplatin treated ECs. Interestingly, IL-6, IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) genes in the IL-6 pathway are closely regulated by miR-125a and let-7e, which directly target its 3' untranslated region. Functional analyses revealed that endothelial miR-125a and let-7e inhibit IL-6-induced adhesion of monocytes to ECs. Furthermore, conditioned medium from cisplatin treated ECs induced a significantly higher formation of VM in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells as compared to that from intact ECs; this effect of cisplatin treatment was abrogated by concurrent overexpression of miR-125a and let-7e. Overall, this study reveals a novel EC-tumor cell crosstalk mediated by the endothelial miR-125a/let-7e-IL-6 signaling axis, which might improve chemosensitivity and provide potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2021

Asarum sieboldii Miq. (Aristolochiaceae) is a perennial herbaceous plant and has been used as traditional medicine for treating diseases, cold, fever, phlegm, allergies, chronic gastritis, and acute toothaches. Also, it has various biological activities, such as antiallergic, antiinflammatory, antinociceptive, and antifungal. However, the anticancer effect of A. sieboldii have been rarely reported, except anticancer effect on lung cancer cell (A549) of water extracts of A. sieboldii. This study investigated the anticancer activity of methanol extracts of A. sieboldii (MeAS) and the underlying mechanism in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. MeAS inhibited FaDu cells grown dose-dependently without affecting normal cells (L929), as determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and live and dead assay. In addition, concentration of MeAS without cytotoxicity (0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL) inhibited migration and colony formation. Moreover, MeAS treatment significantly induced apoptosis through the proteolytic cleavage of caspase-3, -7, -9, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax in FaDu cells, as determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, 4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole stain, and western blotting. Altogether, these results suggest that MeAS exhibits strong anticancer effects by suppressing the growth of oral cancer cells and the migration and colony formation via caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, MeAS can serve as a natural chemotherapeutic for human oral cancer.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.41-48
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• 2022

Ulva compressa Linnaeus (UCL) is a green algae seaweed that performs photosynthesis and is used as a food material in some Asian regions including Korea. It is known to be the dominant species in copper ion-contaminated seas, and many studies on copper ion resistant mechanisms have been reported. UCL is known to have an excellent antioxidant effect, but limited information is available regarding its other physiological activities. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of 30% prethanol extracts of Ulva compressa Linnaeus (30% PeUCL) and the underlying mechanisms of its activity on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. The 30% PeUCL extracts suppressed FaDu cell viability without affecting normal cells (L929), as determined by MTT and viability assays. Furthermore, the 30% PeUCL extracts induced apoptosis, as determined by DAPI staining. The 30% PeUCL extracts inhibited colony formation effectively as well as wound-healing of FaDu cells, even at noncytotoxic concentrations. In addition, 30% PeUCL extracts induced apoptosis significantly through proteolytic cleavage of caspase-3, -7, and -9, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and by downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax in FaDu cells, as determined by Western blot analysis. Collectively, these results suggest that the inhibitory effect of 30% PeUCL extracts on the growth of oral cancer cells, colony formation and wound-healing may be mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, 30% PeUCL extracts can be administered as a natural chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of human oral cancers.