• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4927-4930
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• 2012

Background: Many observational studies have assessed the possible association between occupational cooking and uveal melanoma risk, but reported results are controversial. Our goal was to evaluate the association between occupational cooking and uveal melanoma risk by conducting a meta-analysis of observational studies. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched through June 2012 to identify all eligible studies. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was used to evaluate this association. Either a fixed- or a random-effects model were used to calculate pooled ORs. Results: Five case-control studies involving a total of 1,199 cases and 6,927 controls were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, occupational cooking was associated with an increased risk of uveal melanoma (OR: 1.81, 95%CI 1.33-2.46, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis by gender suggested occupational cooking was associated with increased risk of uveal melanoma in both men (OR: 2.16, 95%CI 1.06-4.40, P = 0.034) and women (OR: 1.92, 95%CI 1.19-3.10, P = 0.008). Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that occupational cooking is associated with an increased risk of uveal melanoma in both men and women.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.137.2-137.2
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• 2003

Dendritic cells (DCs) are known to professional antigen presenting cell (APC). Due to the role as an effective activator of cytotoxic T Lymphocytes by expressing MHC, adhesion and co-stimulatory molecules, DCs are now widely recognized to play an important role in the immune responses to tumors.We investigated the effect of cultured DCs in murine melanoma pulmonary metastasis model. To follow the metastasis protocol, syngenic melanoma cells were inoculated intra-venously into the mouse (B16F10 into the C57BL/6)8 days prior to the first DC injection (1$\times$106 DCs/ mouse, i.p.) and the autologous tumor cell lysate pulsed-DCs were injected as a therapeutic module twice in two weeks. (omitted)

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5229-5232
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• 2012

The incidence of malignant melanoma increases with age. One significiant effect of aging processes is an accumulation of oxidative damage in the genetical material. In this study, the relationship between malignant melanoma and damage in chromosomes and proliferative effectiveness of human peripheral lymphocytes were investigated by the micronucleus (MN) technique. A total of 15 malignant melanoma patients and appropriately matching 15 healthy controls were involved in the study. MN frequencies and proliferative indexes (PI) after non toxic levels of hydrogen peroxide treatment were also measured to determine damaging effect of oxidative stress in genome in addition to measuring the spontenous levels of micronuclei and PI. The patient group had a significantly higher rate of spontaneous MN than the control group (p<0.01). After treatment with $H_2O_2$, MN frequencies in the patient group was significantly decreased (p<0.01) although there was no difference between the treated and untreated results of control group (p=0.29). There was also difference (p<0.01) between the MN frequencies of the patient and the control group either in the spontaneous levels or in the $H_2O_2$ treated groups. The same significant difference persisted when the PI values were compared between patient and control groups. Increase in the MN frequency in patients could mean the alterations in the chromosomal structure which may lead to the chromosome instability and therefore genetic susceptibility to cancer. This increased number of micronuclei can also be used for cytological marker in identifying high risk cases for malignant melanoma.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.81-108
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• 2010

Objective : Thujae Orientalis Folium (TOF) can cool the blood and stop bleeding, eliminate phlegm and relieve cough in Oriental medicine. In addition, the fresh is used alone externally. Recently, TOF is known to have anti-tumor component. And also known to have tyrosinase inhibitory effect. Method : For these reasons, this study was designed to investigate anti-cancer and whitening activities of TOF. In this experiment, effects of TOF on proliferation rates of melanoma cells and on changes in genetic profiles were investigated. The genetic profile for the effect on human derived melanoma cell, SK-MEL-2, was measured using microarray technique, and the functional analysis on these genes was conducted. Results : Total 541 genes were up-regulated and 1,079 genes down-regulated in cells treated with TOF. Genes induced by TOF were mainly concerned with anti-cancer effects and apoptosis. Genes suppresed by TOF were related in extracellular signalling pathway. The network of total protein interactions was measured using cytoscape program, and some key molecules, such as THAP1, MAX1, STAM2, SMAD6, CYCS, PEX5, PSEN1, NONO, MAP2K7 and CREB1 that can be used for elucidation of therapeutical mechanism of medicine in future were identified. Conculusion : These results suggest possibility of TOF as anti-cancer drug for human melanoma. In addition, the present author also suggest that related mechanisms are involved in inhibition of several cancer pathway, activation of apoptosis pathway and suppression of general metabolic pathway.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.236-239
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• 2002

Sunscreens have been advocated as an important means of preventing skin cancer. UV-induced immunosuppression is important for skin cancer development, yet the effectiveness of sunscreens in protecting the human immune system from UV radiation is unclear. The only currently accepted method of sunscreen rating is the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) based on prevention of erythema. We developed an in vivo non-invasive method for evaluating protection of the human immune system from UV radiation based on recall contact sensitivity to nickel, a common allergen. Using this system we showed that broad-spectrum sunscreens provide greater protection to the immune system than sunscreens which protect from UVB only. UVA was found to be immunosuppressive. We developed this technique to enable the study of solar simulated UV radiation dose responses and determined Immune Protection Factors (IPFs) for six commercially available sunscreens based on limits of protection from the dose response data. We found that the IPF did not correlate with the SPF and that protection from erythema therefore cannot be used to predict protection of the immune system. However, IPF was significantly correlated to the UVA protective capability of the sunscreens, indicating that sunscreen protection from UVA is important for prevention of immunosuppression. We recommend that sunscreens should be rated against their immune protective capability to provide a better indication of their ability to protect against skin cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8161-8169
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• 2014

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSC) are populations of cells responsible for tumor initiation, progression and therapeutic resistance in many cancers. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern and clinical significance of two CSC markers, CD133 and Nestin, in a series of skin tumors. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirteen paraffin blocks from skin cancers including 16 (14%) cases of melanoma, 37 (33%) of squamous cell cancer (SCC) and 60 (53%) of basal cell cancer (BCC) were collected and assembled in a tissue microarray (TMA). The samples were immunohistochemically examined for the expression of CD133 and Nestin. Expression of these markers was also correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Results: A significant difference was observed in the expression of CD133 and Nestin in melanomas, SCC and BCC (p value=0.001). Furthermore, the level of expression was significantly higher in the melanomas compared to the SCC and BCC tumors. Expression of CD133 in the melanoma was significantly associated with increased tumor invasiveness (p value=0.05), a higher rate of metastasis (p value=0.04) and the presence of ulceration (p value=0.02). Increased expression of Nestin was observed in metastatic melanoma (p value=0.04), while no statistically significant correlation was found with other clinicopathological parameters including Breslow thickness, Clark level and ulceration. Conclusions: Elevated expression levels of CD133 and Nestin in the melanomas are associated with advanced disease, with more aggressive and metastatic skin tumors. Therefore, these markers could be potential therapeutic targets for malignant tumors of the skin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.167-174
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• 2014

Tumor angiogenesis, growth and metastasis are three closely related processes. We therefore investigated the effects of barbigerone on all three in the B16F10 tumor model established in both zebrafish and mouse models, and explored underlying molecular mechanisms. In vitro, barbigerone inhibited B16F10 cell proliferation, survival, migration and invasion and suppressed human umbilical vascular endothelial cell migration, invasion and tube formation in concentration-dependent manners. In the transgenic zebrafish model, treatment with $10{\mu}M$ barbigerone remarkably inhibited angiogenesis and tumor-associated angiogenesis by reducing blood vessel development more than 90%. In vivo, barbigerone significantly suppressed angiogenesis as measured by H and E staining of matrigel plugs and CD31 staining of B16F10 melanoma tumors in C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, it exhibited highly potent activity at inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis to the lung of B16F10 melanoma cells injected into C57BL/6 mice. Western blotting revealed that barbigerone inhibited phosphorylation of AKT, FAK and MAPK family members, including ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPKs, in B16F10 cells mainly through the MEK3/6/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. These findings suggested for the first time that barbigerone could inhibit tumor-angiogenesis, tumor growth and lung metastasis via downregulation of the MEK3/6/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. The findings support further investigation of barbigerone as a potential anti-cancer drug.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1833-1840
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• 2013

Metastasis is one of the hallmarks of malignant neoplasms and is the leading cause of death in many cancer patients. A major challenge in cancer treatment is to find better ways to specifically target tumor metastasis. In this study, the anti-metastatic potential of the methanolic extract of Rhizophora apiculata (R.apiculata) was evaluated using the B16F-10 melanoma induced lung metastasis model in C57BL/6 mice. Metastasis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by injecting highly metastatic B16F-10 melanoma cells through the lateral tail vein. Simultaneous treatment with R.apiculata extract (10 mg/kg b.wt (intraperitoneal) significantly (p<0.01) inhibited pulmonary tumor nodule formation (41.1 %) and also increased the life span (survival rate) 107.3 % of metastatic tumor bearing animals. The administration of R.apiculata extract significantly (p<0.01) reduced biochemical parameters such as lung collagen hydroxyproline, hexosamine, uronic acid content, serum nitric oxide (NO), ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and sialic acid levels when compared to metastasis controls. These results correlated with lung histopathology analysis of R.apiculata extract treated mice showing reduction in lung metastasis and tumor masses. Taken together, our findings support that R.apiculata extract could be used as a potential anti-metastasis agent against lung cancer.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2022

Malignant melanoma has an aggressive nature and high metastatic potential that result in one of the highest cancer mortality rates. Over the past three decades, primary and metastatic melanoma incidence has rapidly increased. The recent advances in diagnostic technology have shown promise, but there is still an enormous need for specific detection methods to diagnose malignant melanoma. Positron emission tomography can visualize a particular biomarker of malignant melanoma and promise a noninvasive image of micrometastases. However, the development of PET radiopharmaceuticals remains necessary for diagnosing malignant melanoma by using positron emission tomography. In this review, the history and a general overview of PET radionuclide labeled benzamide derivatives, including their radiosynthesis, in vivo characterization, and evaluation, are provided as imaging agents for malignant melanoma.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.193-197
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• 2006

Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm of melanocytes most frequently arising from the skin, but primary melanoma can also arise from the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal melanomas are most commonly metastases from a cutaneous melanoma. Primary melanoma of the stomach is rare and carries a poor prognosis. Reported here is the case of a 75-year-old man with a primary gastric melanoma who presented with a melena, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Most cases of melanoma are treated by excision of the primary tumor. Patients with melanoma have been treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. None of these modalities has been demonstrated to prolong the survival rate. To improve long-term disease-free survival, early diagnosis and surgical intervention are very important.