• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.355-362
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• 2014

Objective: Altered regulation of many transcription factors has been shown to play important roles in the development of leukemia. hMSH2 can modulate the activity of some important transcription factors and is known to be a regulator of hematopoietic differentiation. Herein, we investigated epigenetic regulation of hMSH2 and its influence on cell growth and overall survival of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. Methods: hMSH2 promoter methylation status was assessed by COBRA and pyrosequencing in 60 ALL patients and 30 healthy volunteers. mRNA and protein expression levels of hMSH2, PCNA, CyclinD1, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by real time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The influence of hMSH2 on cell proliferation and survival was assessed in transient and stable expression systems. Results: mRNA and protein expression of hMSH2 and Bcl-2 was decreased, and that of PCNA, CyclinD1 and Bax was increased in ALL patients as compared to healthy volunteers (P<0.05). hMSH2 was inactivated in ALL patients through promoter hypermethylation. Furthermore, hMSH2 hypermethylation was found in relapsed ALL patients (85.7% of all cases). The median survival of patients with hMSH2 methylation was shorter than that of patients without hMSH2 methylation (log-rank test, P=0.0035). Over-expression of hMSH2 in cell lines resulted in a significant reduction in growth and induction of apoptosis. Conclusions: This study suggests that aberrant DNA methylation and epigenetic inactivation of hMSH2 play an important role in the development of ALL through altering cell growth and survival.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.321-326
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• 2012

Resveratrol, a natural compound, has been shown to possess anti-cancer, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and neuroprotective activities. In this study, we examined the antiproliferative and cytotoxicity properties of resveratrol in Rat B103 neuroblastoma cells; although it's molecular mechanisms for the biological effects are not fully defined. Here, we examined the cellular cytotoxicity of resveratrol by cell viability assay, antiproliferation by BrdU assay, DNA fragmentation by DNA ladder assay, activation of caspases and Bcl-2 family proteins were detected by western blot analyses. The results of our investigation suggest that resveratrol increased cellular cytotoxicity of Rat B103 neuroblastoma cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner with $IC_{50}$ of 17.86 ${\mu}M$ at 48 h. On the other hand, incubation of neuroblastoma cells with resveratrol resulted in S-phase cell cycle arrests which dose-dependently and significantly reduced BrdU positive cells through the downregulation of cyclin D1 protein. In addition, resveratrol dose-dependently and significantly downregulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein includes Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 and also activates cleavage caspase-9 and-3 via the downregulation of procaspase-9 and -3 in a dose-dependent manner which indicates that involvement of intrinsic mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway. In conclusion, resveratrol increases cellular cytotoxicity and inhibits the proliferation of B103 neuroblastoma cells by inducing mitochondria-mediated intrinsic caspase dependent pathway which suggests this natural compound could be used as therapeutic purposes for neuroblastoma malignancies.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.685-690
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• 2005

We recently reported that the ginseng saponin metabolite, compound K (20-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyra-nosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol, IH901), inhibits the growth of U937 cells through caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway. In this study, we further characterized the effects of compound K on U937 cells and found that, in addition to apoptosis, compound K induced the arrest of the G1 phase. The compound K treated U937 cells showed increased p21 expression; an inhibitory protein of cyclincdk complex. The up-regulation of p21 was followed by the inactivation of cyclin D and the cdk4 protein, which act at the early $G_1$ phase, and cyclin E, which acts at the late $G_1$ phase. Furthermore, compound K induced the activation of JNK and the transcription factor AP-1, which is a downstream target of JNK. These findings suggest that the up-regulation of p21 and activation of JNK in the compound K treated cells contribute to the arrest of the $G_1$ phase.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2939-2946
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• 2015

Many of the anti-cancer agents currently used have an origin in natural sources including plants. Aloe vera is one such plant being studied extensively for its diverse health benefits, including cancer prevention. In this study, the cytotoxic potential of Aloe vera crude extract (ACE) alone or in combination with cisplatin in human breast (MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells was studied by cell viability assay, nuclear morphological examination and cell cycle analysis. Effects were correlated with modulation of expression of genes involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and drug metabolism by RT-PCR. Exposure of cells to ACE resulted in considerable loss of cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, which was found to be mediated by through the apoptotic pathway as evidenced by changes in the nuclear morphology and the distribution of cells in the different phases of the cell cycle. Interestingly, ACE did not have any significant cytotoxicity towards normal cells, thus placing it in the category of safe chemopreventive agent. Further, the effects were correlated with the downregulation of cyclin D1, CYP 1A1, CYP 1A2 and increased expression of bax and p21 in MCF-7 and HeLa cells. In addition, low dose combination of ACE and cisplatin showed a combination index less than 1, indicating synergistic growth inhibition compared to the agents applied individually. In conclusion, these results signify that Aloe vera may be an effective anti-neoplastic agent to inhibit cancer cell growth and increase the therapeutic efficacy of conventional drugs like cispolatin. Thus promoting the development of plant-derived therapeutic agents appears warranted for novel cancer treatment strategies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8113-8117
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• 2016

Glehnia littoralis (GL) is widely used as an oriental medicine for cough, fever, stroke and other disease conditions. However, the anti-cancer properties of GL on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells have not been investigated. In order to elucidate anti-cancer properties and underlying cell death mechanisms, MCF-7cells ($5{\times}10^4/well$) were treated with Glehnia littoralis root extract at 0-400 ug/ml. A hot water extract of GL root inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of the cell cycle after treatment of MCF-7 cells with increasing concentrations of GL root extract for 24 hours showed significant cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis both revealed that GL root extract significantly increased the expression of p21 and p27 with an accompanying decrease in both CDK4 and cyclin D1. Our reuslts indicated that GL root extract arrested the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in G1 phase through inhibition of CDK4 and cyclin D1 via increased induction of p21 and p27. In summary, the current study showed that GL could serve as a potential source of chemotherapeutic or chemopreventative agents against human breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4101-4106
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• 2013

Alterations of cyclin D1, one of the main regulators of the cell cycle, are known to be involved in various cancers. The CCDN1 G870A polymorphism causes production of a truncated variant with a shorter half-life and thus thought to impact the regulatory effect of CCDN1. The aim of the present study was to contribute to existing results to help to determine the prognostic value of this specific gene variant and evaluate the role of CCDN1 G870A polymorphism in brain cancer susceptibility. A Turkish study group including 99 patients with primary brain tumors and 155 healthy controls were examined. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The CCDN1 genotype frequencies in meningioma, glioma and control cases were not significantly different (p>0.05). No significant association was detected according to clinical parameters or tumor characteristics; however, a higher frequency of AG genotype was recorded within patients with astrocytic or oligoastrocytic tumors. A significant association between AG genotype and gliobilastoma multiforme (GBM) was recorded within the patients with glial tumors (p value=0.048 OR: 1.87 CI% 1.010-3.463). According to tumor characteristics, no statistically significant difference was detected within astrocytic, oligoasltrocytic tumors and oligodentrioglias. However, patients with astrocytic astrocytic or oligoastrocytic tumors showed a higher frequency of AG genotype (50%) when compared to those with oligodendrioglial tumors (27.3%). Our results indicate a possible relation between GBM formation and CCDN1 genotype.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.38-48
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Hominis Placenta (紫河車) on the growth of human uterine myoma cells and cell apoptosis. Methods: Human uterine leiomyoma cells were cultured and treated with Hominis Placenta extract for 48 hours. Cell proliferation and activity was analyzed by MTT assay. We analyzed the cell cycle of human uterine myoma cells treated Hominis Placenta extract by FACS. Expression of proteins related to cell apoptosis (Bax, Bcl-2), cyclin-D1 and VEGF were evaluated by Western blotting method. Results: The human uterine myoma cells treated by Hominis Placenta extract didn't proliferate below the concentration of $10mg/m{\ell}$. And there was no remarkable difference on cell cycle analysis below the concentration of $10mg/m{\ell}$. The expression of Bax was decreased and the expression of Bcl-2 was increased after the treatment of Hominis Placenta extract. But the expressions of cyclin-D1 and VEGF were increased after the treatment of Hominis Placenta extract. Conclusion: This study suggests that Hominis Placenta induce uterine myoma cell apoptosis and have effect on the myoma cell proliferation in the concentraion below $10mg/m{\ell}$.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Cervi Pontotrichum Cornu extract solution on the cell cycle regulation and apoptosis in human leiomyoma cell. Methods: The leiomyoma cell of patients was used in the study, and we administered the extract solution of Cervi Pontotrichum Cornu concentration at 1, $10mg/m{\ell}$ to the leiomyoma cell for 48 hours. We used flow cytometry and western blotting to confirm cell cycle and apoptosis. Results: In flow cytometry, G1 phase of the $1mg/m{\ell}$ group prolonged. But G1 phase of $10mg/m{\ell}$ group was shortened and S phase was increased. Cyclin D1 expression increased in higher concentration group. And Bax expression that regulates cell apoptosis increased in $1mg/m{\ell}$ and $10mg/m{\ell}$ group than control group. Bcl-2 expression decreased in 1, $10mg/m{\ell}$ groups than control group. VEGF expression rised in higher Cervi Pontotrichum Cornu concentration group. Conclusion: This study means that Cervi Pontotrichum Cornu could induce the apoptosis of leiomyoma cell by increasing Bax and decreasing Bcl-2 expression. But Cervi Pontotrichum Cornu could increase Cyclin D1 and VEGF expression, so more detailed studies would be needed.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) extracted with sterile distilled water on cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. Materials and Methods : Two cholangiocarcinoma cell lines, SNU-1079 and SNU-1196, were used in this study. Cells were treated with different concentrations of RVS for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cell count, viability, apoptosis, and mRNA expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, survivin, caspase-3, and cyclin D1 and P21 were determined with an automatic cell counter (ADAM-MC), MTT assay, apoptosis assay (Annexin-V/PI staining), and RT-PCR. Results : All cells treated with RVS showed decreased cell counts in a dose-dependent manner. RVS inhibited proliferation of SNU-1196 in a dose-dependent manner, but SNU-1079 proliferation was inhibited in the long-time culture group in a dose-dependent manner. The proportion of early and late-stage apoptotic cells was increased by RVS in a dose-dependent manner in SNU-1196. In contrast, it was increased significantly in SNU-1079 treated with high-dose RVS. After treatment with RVS, the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was decreased while Bax was increased in SNU-1079. Cyclin D1 mRNA levels were decreased in SNU-1196 in a dose-dependent manner. P21 expression was increased in all cells after the treatment with RVS. Conclusions : RVS appears to have potential as a therapeutic agent for cholangiocarcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2325-2328
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• 2012

Background: Cyclin D1 (CCND1) is critical in the transition of the cell cycle from G1 to S phases and unbalanced cell cycle regulation is a hallmark of carcinogenesis. A number of studies conducted to assess the association between CCND1 G870A polymorphism and susceptibility to lung cancer have yielded inconsistent and inconclusive results. In the present study, the possible association above was assessed by a meta-analysis. Methods: Eligible articles were identified for the period up to November 2011. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were appropriately derived from fixed effects or random-effects models. Sensitivity analysis excluding studies whose genotype frequencies in controls significantly deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was performed. Results: Ten case-control studies with a total of 10,548 subjects were eligible. At the overall analysis the CCND1 870A allele appeared to be associated with elevated lung cancer risk (for allele model, pooled OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.08-1.44, P = 0.004; for homozygous model, pooled OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.14-1.84, P = 0.003; for recessive model, pooled OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.06-1.58, P = 0.013; for dominant model, pooled OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.08-1.65, P = 0.009). Subgroup analyses by ethnicity and sensitivity analysis further pointed to associations, particularly in Asians. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that the A allele of CCND1 G870A polymorphism confers additional lung cancer risk.