• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 2001

Improvement and possible commercialization of a home-made electroporation apparatus(home-made) were further tried to establish a simple and effective introduction of foreign gene into sperm followed by in vitro fertilization. Expressions of introduced pJJ9 and pNT plasmids were shown in all fertilized eggs with electroporated spermatozoa. In particular, with this gene transfer system all the fry showed a consistently transient expression in the syncytium of the yolk sac. This fact is important since some required, minute quantity of human proteins can be produced from the established transient expression on the yolk sac of all fry derived from in vitro fertilization with electroporated spermatozoa. To explore tissue-specific expression in fish, which we will use a similar system later, we targeted the nerve tissue to see whether tissue-specific promoter is working in fish properly. pNT plasmid containing a nerve cell-specific tubulin promoter gene demonstrated consistently exact targeted expressions among the developing nerve cells in later stages of embryos and hatched fry. Finally, liver-specific genes are now being cloned by using already selected primers for useful human protein gene fusion.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.209-218
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• 2005

We investigated effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on profiles of mRNA transcripts in 6 male cynomolgus (M. fascicularis) monkey's spleen for 4 weeks. Six monkeys, composed of control and treatment group (Control : M1, M2, M3: Treatment : M4, M5, M6) were intravenously administered 3 times per week without or with a dose of rHuEPO 2730 IU/0.1 ml/kg. After 4 weeks rHuEPO treatment, spleen was removed for RNA isolation. Splenic gene expression was assessed using Affymetrix U133A 2.0 arrays containing 18,400 transcripts and variants, including 14,500 well-characterized human genes. Gene expression pattern was very different between individuals even in same treatment. In rHuEPO treated groups showed number of genes were up- or down-regulated (M4: 79: M5: 48; M6: 73 genes). Six genes (epidermal growth factor receptor, calgranulin A, estrogen receptor binding site associated antigen, matrix metalloproteinase 19, zinc finger and BTB domain containing 16, progestin and adipoQ receptor) were commonly expressed in rHuEPO treated group. The different individual response could be major considering factor in monkey experiment. Further study is needed to clarify the different individual response to rHuEPO in molecular level. This study will be valuable in the fundamental understanding and validation of molecular toxicology for bio-generic drugs including rHuEPO in cynomolgus monkey.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8441-8445
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• 2014

Background: Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2) is another new marker in breast carcinoma since hypermethylation at P2 promoter of this gene was noted to be associated with poor prognosis. We investigated the expression of PITX2 protein using immunohistochemistry in invasive ductal carcinoma and its association with the established growth receptors such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2). Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study using 100 samples of archived formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of invasive ductal carcinoma and stained them with immunohistochemistry for PITX2, ER, PR and HER2. All HER2 with scoring of 2+ were confirmed with chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH). Results: PITX2 protein was expressed in 53% of invasive ductal carcinoma and lack of PITX2 expression in 47%. Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between PITX2 expression with PR (p=0.001), ER (p=0.006), gland formation (p=0.044) and marginal association with molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma (p=0.051). Combined ER and PR expression with PITX2 was also significantly associated (p=0.003) especially in double positive cases. Multivariate analysis showed the most significant association between PITX2 and PR (RR 4.105, 95% CI 1.765-9.547, p=0.001). Conclusion: PITX2 is another potential prognostic marker in breast carcinoma adding significant information to established prognostic factors of ER and PR. The expression of PITX2 together with PR may carry a very good prognosis.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.197-203
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• 2001

A fusion protein, consisting of human epidermal growth factor as a recognition domain and human angiogenin as a toxin domain, can be used as a targeted therapeutic against breast cancer cells among others. The fusion protein was expressed as inclusion body in recombinant E. coli, and when the conventional, solution-phase refolding process was used the refolding yield was very low due to severe aggregation, probably due to the opposite surface charge due to vastly different pI values of each domain. Solid-phase refolding process exploiting ionic interactions between the solid matrix and the protein was tried, but the ionic binding yield was very low regardless of the resins and pH conditions used. To provide higher affinity toward the solid matrix, six lysine residues were tagged to the N -terminus of the hEGF domain When the cation exchange resins such as heparin- or CM-Sepharose were used as the matrix, the adsorption capacity increased 2.5-3 times and the subsequent refolding yield increased nearly IS times compared to the conventional process.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1827-1831
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• 2009

Ligand molecules that can recognize and interact with cancer cell surface marker proteins with high affinity and specificity should greatly aid the development of novel cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. HER-2/ErbB2/Neu (HER-2), a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor family, is specifically overexpressed on the surface of breast cancer cells and serves as both a useful biomarker and a therapeutic target for breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to isolate RNA aptamers that specifically bind to a HER-2-overexpressing human breast cancer cell line, SK-BR-3, using Cell-SELEX strategy. The selected aptamers showed strong affinity to SK-BR-3, but not to MDAMB- 231, a HER-2-underexpressing breast cancer cell line. In addition, we confirmed the specific targeting of HER-2 receptor by aptamers using an unrelated mouse cell line overexpressing human HER-2 receptor. The HER-2-targeting RNA aptamers could become a useful reagent for the development of breast cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2019

The protein kinase $CK2{\alpha}$ (formerly Casein Kinase II) is implicated in tumorigenesis and transformation. However, the mechanisms of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in breast cancer have yet to be elucidated. This study investigated the mechanisms of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in estrogen signaling. Estrogen increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity, and protein expression in estrogen receptor positive ($ER^+$) MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, which were inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine. $H_2O_2$ enhanced $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and protein expression. Human epidermal growth factor (EGF) increased ROS production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and protein expression in EGF receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing MCF-7 (MCF-7 HER2) cells, but not in MCF-7 cells. Estrogen induced the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The p38 inhibitor, SB202190, blocked estrogen-induced increases in ROS production, $CK2{\alpha}$ activity and $CK2{\alpha}$ protein expression. The data suggest that ROS/p38 MAPK is the key inducer of $CK2{\alpha}$ activation in response to estrogen or EGF.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.330-337
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• 2003

The effect of sixteen excipients on the transport of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) across Caco-2 cell monolayers was examined at $37^{\circ}C$. The apparent apical to basolateral (A-B) permeability ($P_{app}$) of 30 $\mu$ M rhEGF was $8.15\times 10^{-7}$ cm/sec, indicative of a poor level of absorption in the GI tract. The Papp was 1.7- and 6.3-fold greater than the $P_{app}$ in the basolateral to apical (B-A) direction and the A-B permeability of mannitol, respectively, and decreased dramatically to a negligible level at $4^{\circ}C$, consistent with a receptor mediated transcytosis of rhEGF. The stability of rhEGF was very poor, undergoing more than 85% degradation in 2 h in the transport medium at $37^{\circ}C$. A significant increase in the $P_{app}$ could be achieved by the addition of certain excipients, as exemplified by 23, 21, 20 and 16-fold increases, in the presence of sodium taurochenodeoxycholate (NaTCDC), sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC), sodium glycodeoxycholate (NaGDC) and sodium laurylsulfate (SLS) (all at a concentration of 1 % w/v), respectively. A significant increase in stability could also be achieved by the addition of some of the excipients, as represented by 1 % SLS, which nearly completely stabilized the rhEGF. Unfortunately, however, an increase in the $P_{app}$ of rhEGF could not be achieved without a simultaneous and extensive decrease in the integrity of the cell membranes. Thus, more efficient excipients, that specifically enhance the permeation of rhEGF and do not alter the membrane integrity, should be pursued in order to safely enhance the permeation of rhEGF.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5551-5556
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• 2014

Background: The prognostic value of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2/neu) for survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is still ambiguous. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to evaluate its prognostic significance. Materials and Methods: We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for published literature investigating associations between HER-2/neu status and overall survival of patients with CRC. A meta-analysis was performed using a DerSimonian-Laird model and publication bias was investigated by Begg's and Egger's tests. Subgroup analysis was also conducted according to the study design type, study quality score, cut-off value for HER-2/neu overexpression, publication region, patient number and publication year. Results: A total of 17 eligible studies involving 2,347 patients were identified for this meta-analysis. The combined hazard ratio (HR) was 1.31 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.96-1.79), suggesting that HER-2/neu overexpression was not significantly associated with overall survival of patients with CRC. However, subgroup analysis revealed that HER-2/neu overexpression had an unfavorable impact on survival when the analysis was restricted to subgroups of study quality score ${\leq}5 $(HR=1.56, 95%CI: 1.17-2.10), Asian patients (HR=1.74, 95%CI: 1.22-2.49), patient number ${\leq}106$ (HR=1.57, 95%CI: 1.01-2.44), publication year before 2003 (HR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.02-2.49), and prospectively designed study (HR=3.62, 95%CI: 1.42-9.24). The effect disappeared in subgroups of study quality scores > 5 (HR=0.69, 95%CI: 0.33-1.44), non Asian patients (HR=1.14, 95%CI: 0.77-1.70), patients' number > 106 (HR=1.07, 95%CI: 0.67-1.72), publication year after 2003 (HR=1.13, 95%CI: 0.76-1.69), and retrospectively designed study (HR=1.22, 95%CI: 0.89-1.67). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that HER-2/neu overexpression might not be a significantly prognostic indicator for patients with CRC. Further studies are required to confirm these results.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.491-500
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• 1996

The organ distribution and pharmacokinetics of DWP401, a recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF), were compared after single and repeated subcutaneous administration ( 50${\mu}$/kg, 10${\mu}g$Ci/kg of $^{125}I$-DWP401, twice a day for 7 consecutive days) to rats. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as AUC and terminal half-life were similar between two different administration. During repeated administration, the plasma concentration of DWP401 seemed to be constant when the plasma was collected at 15 min after each dosing. The TCA-precipitated radioactivities in thyroid, liver, kidney, and stomach were higher than those of other organs studied after both single and repeated administration. The TCA-precipitated radioactivities after repeated administration in several organs, such as thyroid, stomach, prostate, adrenal, eye ball, and testis were higher than those after single administration. But, according to the observations using gel filtration chromatography and antibody binding assay, the radioactivities in thyroid and stomach were not primarily due to the intact DWP401 or its metabolites but due to the $^{125}I$-thyroxine binding protein. In conclusion, it can be suggested that DWP401 is metabolized to each amino acid or small polypeptides, and there was no significant changes in pharmacokinetics or any indications for accumulation of DWP401 in rat plasma and organs after repeated treatment.

• Journal of Breast Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.382-390
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• 2018

Purpose: PIK3CA mutation is considered to be a possible cause for resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. We investigated the association between PIK3CA mutations and the outcome of NAC in HER2-positive breast cancers. Methods: A total of 100 HER2-positive breast cancer patients who had undergone NAC and surgery between 2004 and 2016 were examined. Mutation status was sequentially assessed in pre-NAC, post-NAC, and recurrent specimens taken from these patients. Results: PIK3CA mutations were identified in the sequential specimens of 17 patients (17.0%). These 17 patients experienced shorter disease-free survival (DFS) than the rest of the patients (58.3 months vs. 119.3 months, p=0.020); however, there was no significant difference in pathologic complete response (pCR) and overall survival (OS) (pCR, 17.6% vs. 33.7%, p=0.191; OS, 84.5 months vs. 118.0 months, p=0.984). While there was no difference in pCR between the wild-type and mutant PIK3CA groups in pre-NAC specimens (25.0% vs. 31.8%, p=0.199), PIK3CA mutations correlated with lower pCR in postNAC specimens (0.0% vs. 24.3%, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed significantly worse DFS in the mutant PIK3CA group than in the wild-type group (hazard ratio, 3.540; 95% confidence interval, 1.001-12.589; p=0.050). Moreover, the DFS curves of the change of PIK3CA mutation status in sequential specimens were significantly different (p=0.016). Conclusion: PIK3CA mutation in HER2-positive breast cancer was correlated with a lower pCR rate and shorter DFS. These results suggest that PIK3CA mutation is a prognostic marker for NAC in HER2-positive breast cancer, especially in post-NAC specimens.