• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.39-55
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• 2012

Objectives : Recently there have been encouraging results, from a western perspective, in the cancer research field regarding the anticancer effects of herbal medicine. This paper was aimed to review herbal medicine playing its anticancer role in terms of apoptosis, inflammation control, differentiation and telomerase. Methods : New studies for tang, medicinal herb itself or effective ingradients of medicinal herb showing anti-cancer effectiveness were reviewed and summarized in terms of pharmacological action. Results : Ethanol extracts of $Spatholobus$ $suberectus$ greatly inhibited cancer cell growth inducing cell apoptosis and cytotoxic effects. $Scutellaria$ $baicalensis$ may be responsible for its anticancer activity showing inhibition of $PGE_2$ synthesis via suppression of COX-2 expression. Saikosaponins isolated from $Bupleurum$ induced the differentiation of C6 glioma cells, cancer cells, into astrocytes, normal cells. Acetone extract of $Bupleurum$ $scorzonerifolium$ inhibited proliferation of human lung cancer cells via inducing apoptosis and suppressing telomerase activity. Conclusions : Herbal medicine inhibited cancer cell growth inducing cell apoptosis and cytotoxic effects. Inflammation persisting for a decade eventually elevates the risk of cancer sufficiently that it is discernible in case control epidemiological studies. Differentiation therapy is defined as a therapy to treat cancers by inducing differentiation of the stem cells. Telomerase expression is a hallmark of cancer. Nearly the complete spectrum of human tumors has been shown to be telomerase positive.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4923-4926
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• 2012

Aim: To investigate whether XRCC1 and ADPRT polymorphisms might be associated with outcomes of breast cancer. Methods: A prospective study was conducted with a total of 335 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy consecutively collected from Jan. 2005 to Jan. 2008. Genotyping of XRCC1 and ADPRT polymorphisms was conducted by PCR-RFLP assay. Results: All 335 patients were followed up until death or the end of Jan. 2012, with a median follow-up period of 38.8 (2-64) months. It was shown that the variant genotype of XRCC1 399Gln/Gln was strongly significantly associated with a decreased risk of death from breast cancer, with an HR (95% CI) of 0.52 (0.28-0.91). Similarly, individuals carrying the ADPRT 762Ala/Ala demonstrated longer survival compared to ADPRT 762 Val/Val, with an HR (95% CI) of 0.58 (0.31-0.97). Individuals with combination genotypes of XRCC1 399Gln allele and ADPRT 762Ala/Ala presented with a longer survival, the HR (95% CI) being 0.56 (0.32-0.97). Conclusion: We found a significant association between XRCC1399Gln/Gln and ADPRT 762Ala/Ala polymorphisms and clinical outcomes. These two genotypes could be used as a surrogate markers of clinical outcome in glioma cases receiving chemotherapy.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.182-190
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• 2015

Objectives: To introduce a protocol of Mobi-kids study which was aimed to examine an association between radiofrequency (RF) radiation exposure by mobile phone use and brain tumor risk in children and adolescents. Methods: The Mobi-kids study was a multinational matched case control study using a standardized protocol with the number of subjects targeted about 1,000 cases and 2,000 controls aged 10 to 24. In Mobi-Kids Korea, the source population was restricted to Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do province. Eligible cases of primary brain tumor (glioma, meningioma, and others) were diagnosed from January 2012 to June 2015. Eligible controls were appendicitis patients operated during the study period. Two controls were matched on age, gender, and study region for 1 case. Information about pattern and history of mobile phone use and other covariates were obtained by face to face interview by trained interviewer. The Mobi-kids study has been involved in Mobi-expo as a validation study about mobile phone use, XGridmaster to localize tumor in the brain for RF energy calculation, and histological review for validation of diagnosis. Results: The Mobi-kids was the first and largest study in children and adolescents to estimate risk of brain tumor in association with the RF energy absorption in the brain estimated by mobile phone use. Forty-six-cases and 54 controls were collected as of September 2014 in Korea. Conclusions: The meaningful results of the study were expected because of the largest sample size, high validity of EMF exposure assessment as well as the susceptible study populationof children and adolescents.