• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1799-1805
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• 2019

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most effective anticancer agents used for the treatment of multiple cancers; however, its use is limited by its short half-life and adverse drug reactions, especially cardiotoxicity. In this study, we found that the conjugate of DOX with APTA12 (Gemcitabine incorporated G-quadruplex aptamer) was significantly more cancer selective and cytotoxic than DOX. The conjugate had an affinity for nucleolin, with higher uptake and retention into the cancer cells than those of DOX. Further, it was localized to the nucleus, which is the target site of DOX. Owing to its mechanism of action, DOX has the ability to intercalate into the nucleotides thus making it a suitable drug to form a conjugate with cancer selective aptamers such as APTA12. The conjugation can lead to selectively accumulate in the cancer cells thus decreasing its potential nonspecific as well as cardiotoxic side effects. The aim of this study was to prepare a conjugate of DOX with APTA12 and assess the chemotherapeutic properties of the conjugate specific to cancer cells. The DOX-APTA12 conjugate was prepared by incubation and its cytotoxicity in MCF-10A (non-cancerous mammary cells) and MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer cells) was assessed. The results indicate that DOX-APTA12 conjugate is a potential option for chemotherapy especially for nucleolin expressing breast cancer with reduced doxorubicin associated side effects.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.407-410
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• 2015

Background: Acute kidney injury is an important issue in chemotherapy receiving patients an neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin has been proposed as a novel marker. We here aimed to assess the role of urinary levels for assessment after platin exposure. Materials and Methods: Patients who had treated with cisplatin or carboplatin or oxaliplatin containg regimens were included in this study. Baseline and postchemotherapy serum urea, creatinine, urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and urine creatinine levels were determined. To avoid the effects of hydration during chemotherapy infusion the urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin/urine creatinine ratio was used to determine acute kidney injury. Results: Of a total of 42 patients receiving platin compounds,14 (33.3%) received cisplatin containing regimens, 14 (33.3%) received carboplatin and 14 (33.3%) oxaliplatin. The median age was 60 (37-76) years. Nineteen of the patients (45.2%) had lung cancer, 12 (28.6%) colorectal cancer and 11 (26.2%) others. The median pre and post chemotherapy urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin/urine creatinin ratio was 15.6 ng/mg and 35.8 ng/mg (p=0.041) in the cisplatin group, 32.5 ng/mg and 86.3 ng/mg (p=0.004) in the carboplatin group and 40.9 ng/mg and 62.3 ng/mg (p=0.243) in the oxaliplatin group. Conclusions: Nephrotoxicity is a serious side effect of chemotherapeutic agentslike cisplatin and carbopaltin, but only to a lower extent oxaliplatin. All platin compounds must be used carefully and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin measurement seems to be promising in detecting acute kidney injury earlier than with creatinine.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.198-201
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• 2006

Hyponatremia is a dangerous electrolyte disturbance in patients on chemotherapy and may cause sudden death if not detected early. SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone) is one of the known causes of hyponatremia in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Few chemotherapeutic agents, however, are reported to cause SIADH. The current study reports that SIADH developed in a 55 year old woman on S-1 ($80\;mg/m^{2}$) and cisplatin ($60\;mg/m^{2}$) chemotherapy for the peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. The patient underwent a total gastrectomy, a splenectomy, and a segmental resection of the transverse colon for gastric cancer. She had used thiazide and ${\beta}-blocker$ to treat hyperiension for 12 years. She admitted to our hospital with complaining of general weakness, dysarthria, loss of appetite, and urinary discomfort. The serum level of sodium and potassium were 94 mEq/L and 2.2 mEq/L respectively. The hyponatremia completely resolved uneventfully after 3% saline infusion, which led to normalized electrolyte balance. The patient was discharged on the 13th hospital day.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.183-190
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• 2016

Anthricin (Deoxypodophyllotoxin), a naturally occurring flavolignan, has well known anti-cancer properties in several cancer cells, such as prostate cancer, cervical carcinoma and pancreatic cancer. However, the effects of Anthricin are currently unknown in oral cancer. We examined the anticancer effect and mechanism of action of Anthricin in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that Anthricin inhibits cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner ($IC_{50}$ 50 nM) in the MTT assay and Live & Dead assay. In addition, Anthricin treated FaDu cells showed marked apoptosis by DAPI stain and FACS. Furthermore, Anthricin activates anti-apoptotic factors such as caspase-3, -9 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), suggesting that caspase-mediated pathways are involved in Anthricin- induced apoptosis. Anthricin treatment also leads to accumulation of the pro-apoptotic factor Bax, followed by inhibition of cell growth. Taken together, these results indicate that Anthricn-induced cell death of human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells is mediated by mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway. In summary, our findings provide a framework for further exploration on Anthricin as a novel chemotherapeutic drug for human oral cancer.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.224-232
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• 2017

Resveratrol has been actively investigated as an anticancer drug since it induces cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in many cancer cells. Resveratrol acts through modulation of multiple pathways and genes. In this study, we found resveratrol reduced cell growth and mammosphere formation in MDA-MB-231 triple-negative human breast cancer cells. This suppressive effect of resveratrol is accompanied by a reduction in Bmi-1 gene expression. We also observed that knock-down of Bmi-1 gene by small interfering RNA effectively sensitizes breast cancer cells to resveratrol treatment. Our data demonstrate, for the first time, that resveratrol down-regulates Bmi-1 expression in human breast cancer cells and suggest that specific molecular targeting of Bmi-1 can be combined with a chemotherapeutic strategy to improve the response of breast cancer cells to resveratrol.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.337-340
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• 2017

Leishmaniasis is a neglected and endemic disease that affects poorest population mainly in developing countries. A lack of adequate and definitive chemotherapeutic agents to fight against this infection has led to the investigation of numerous compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro activity of boldine against Leishmania amazonensis murine cell infection. Boldine ((S)-2,9-dihydroxy-1,10-dimethoxy-aporphine) is an aporphine alkaloid found abundantly in the leaves/bark of boldo (Peumus boldus Molina), a widely distributed tree native to Chile. The in vitro system consisted of murine macrophage infection with amastigotes of L. amazonensis treated with different concentrations from 50 to $600{\mu}g/ml$ of boldine for 24 hr. Intracellular parasite destruction was assessed by morphological examination and boldine cytotoxicity to macrophages was tested by the MTT viability assay. When cells were treated with $100{\mu}g/ml$ of boldine the reduction of parasite infection was 81% compared with untreated cultures cells. Interestingly, boldine-treatment caused a concentration-dependent decrease of macrophage infection that culminated with 96% of reduction when cells were submitted to $600{\mu}g/ml$ of boldine. Cell cultures exposed to $100{\mu}g/ml$ of boldine and $300{\mu}g/ml$ of $Glucantime^{(R)}$ during 24 hr showed a significant reduction of 50% in parasitized cells compared with cell cultures exposed just to $Glucantime^{(R)}$. The study showed that treatment with boldine produces a better effect than treatment with the reference antimonial drug, glucantime, in L. amazonensis infected macrophage. Our results suggest that boldine is a potentially useful agent for the treatment of leishmaniasis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6211-6216
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• 2012

Objective: To investigate the effects of gambogic acid (GA) on the growth of human malignant glioma cells. Methods: U251MG and U87MG human glioma cell lines were treated with GA and growth and proliferation were investigated by MTT and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by annexin V FITC/PI flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane potential assays and DAPI nuclear staining. Monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and GFP-LC3 localisation were used to detect autophagy. Western blotting was used to investigate the molecular changes that occurred in the course of GA treatment. Results: GA treatment significantly suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation, induced apoptosis in U251 and U87MG glioblastoma cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. GA treatment also lead to the accumulation of monodansylcadaverine (MDC) in autophagic vacuoles, upregulated expressions of Atg5, Beclin 1 and LC3-II, and the increase of punctate fluorescent signals in glioblastoma cells pre-transfected with GFP-tagged LC3 plasmid. After the combination treatment of autophagy inhitors and GA, GA mediated growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death was further potentiated. Conclusion: Our results suggested that autophagic responses play roles as a self-protective mechanism in GA-treated glioblastoma cells, and autophagy inhibition could be a novel adjunctive strategy for enhancing chemotherapeutic effect of GA as an anti-malignant glioma agent.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1551-1556
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• 2014

Background: Transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8), a principle membrane receptor involved in calcium ion influx and cell signal transduction, has been found to be up-regulated in some cancer types, including melanomas. Efficiency of menthol, an agonist of TRPM8, in killing melanoma cancer cells has been reported previously, but the mechanisms remain unclear. We here determined whether in vitro cytotoxic effects of menthol on A-375 human malignant melanoma cells might be related to TRPM8 transcript expression. Materials and Methods: The $PrestoBlue^{(R)}$ cell viability assay was used to assess the in vitro cytotoxic effect of menthol after 24h of treatment. RT-PCR was used to quantify TRPM8 transcript expression levels in normal and menthol-treated cells. Cell morphology was observed under inverted phase contrast light microscopy. Results: TRPM8 transcript expression was found at low levels in A-375 cells and down-regulated in a potentially dose-dependent manner by menthol. Menthol exerted in vitro cytotoxic effects on A-375 cells with an $IC_{50}$ value of 11.8 ${\mu}M$, which was at least as effective as 5-fluorouracil ($IC_{50}=120{\mu}M$), a commonly applied chemotherapeutic drug. Menthol showed no dose-dependent cytotoxicity on HeLa cells, a TRPM8 non-expressing cell line. Conclusions: The cytotoxic effects on A-375 cells caused by menthol might be related to reduction of the TRPM8 transcript level. This suggests that menthol might activate TRPM8 to increase cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ levels, which leads to cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ imbalance and triggers cell death.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7805-7809
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• 2014

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy and prognostic factors of chemoreduction combined with topical treatment of advanced intraocular retinoblastoma (RB). Materials and Methods: A total of 22 eyes from 17 children with RB were selected for the study and treated with chemoreduction combined with topical cryotherapy, transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) or episcleral plaque brachytherapy. Clinical and follow-up data were retrospectively analyzed. Results: All children received 2~6 courses of chemoreduction treatment, ($4.5{\pm}0.8$ courses on average); 17 eyes from 13 children were treated by chemoreduction combined with cryotherapy or TTT and 5 eyes from 4 children with chemoreduction combined with $^{125}I$ episcleral plaque brachytherapy. The eye retention rate was 81.8% (18/22), among which 38.9% (7/18) featured restored or maintained good vision. Postoperative follow-up period was 7 to 34 months, ($18.6{\pm}5.2$ months on average). The recurrence rate was 41.2% (7/17), among which 57.1% (4/7) were controlled by supplementing or appending cryotherapy or TTT treatment during the follow-up period. The tumor basal diameter and thickness were significantly reduced (P<0.05 or P<0.01) after treatment. All children demonstrated different degrees of hair loss, 70.6% (12/17) with different degrees of gastrointestinal reactions, 5.88% (1/17) with neutropenia and 11.8% (2/17) being seriously infected during the chemotherapeutic treatment. Univariate and logistic regression analysis showed that tumor basal diameter before treatment had a significant effect on the prognosis (P<0.01). Conclusions: Chemoreduction combined with topical therapy can effectively control RB in the short term, and tumor basal diameter before treatment is an independent risk factor for prognosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4853-4858
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• 2013

Objectives: To investigate whether hypoxia has an effect on regulation of multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapeutic drugs in laryngeal carcinoma cells and explore the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-$1{\alpha}$ (HIF-$1{\alpha}$). Methods: Laryngeal cancer cells were cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The sensitivity of the cells to multiple drugs and levels of apoptosis induced by paclitaxel were determined by MTT assay and annexin-V/propidium iodide staining analysis, respectively. HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression was blocked by RNA interference. The expression of HIF-$1{\alpha}$ gene was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. The value of fluorescence intensity of intracellular adriamycin accumulation and retention in cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. Results: The sensitivity to multiple chemotherapy agents and induction of apoptosis by paclitaxel could be reduced by hypoxia (P<0.05). A the same time, the adriamycin releasing index of cells was increased (P<0.05). However, resistance acquisition subject to hypoxia in vitro was suppressed by down-regulating HIF-$1{\alpha}$ expression. Conclusion: HIF-$1{\alpha}$ could be considered as a key regulator for mediating hypoxia-induced MDR in laryngeal cancer cells via inhibition of drug-induced apoptosis and decrease in intracellular drug accumulation.