• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5243-5248
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• 2013

Background: Triptolide, extracted from the herb Tripteryglum wilfordii Hook.f that has long been used as a natural medicine in China, has attracted much interest for its anti-cancer effects against some kinds of tumours in recent years. Artesunate, extracted from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua, has proven to be effective and safe as an anti-malarial drug that possesses anticancer potential. The present study attempted to clarify if triptolide enhances artesunate-induced cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Methods: In vitro, to test synergic actions, cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed after treatment of pancreatic cancer cell lines with the two agents singly or in combination. The molecular mechanisms of apoptotic effects were also explored using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was established in nude mice, for assessment of inhibitory effects of triptolide and artesunate. Results: We could show that the combination of triptolide and artesunate could inhibit pancreatic cancer cell line growth, and induce apoptosis, accompanied by expression of HSP 20 and HSP 27, indicating important roles in the synergic effects. Moreover, tumor growth was decreased with triptolide and artesunate synergy. Conclusion: Our result indicated that triptolide and artesunate in combination at low concentrations can exert synergistic anti-tumor effects in pancreatic cancer cells with potential clinical applications.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.172-174
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• 2005

Recent anti-cancer approaches have been based to target tumor-specifically associated and/or causative molecules such as RNAs or proteins. As this specifically targeted anti-cancer modulator, we have previously described a novel human cancer gene therapeutic agent that is Tetrahymena group I intron-based trans-splicing ribozyme which can reprogram and replace human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) RNA to selectively induce tumor-specific cytotoxicity in cancer cells expressing the target RNA. Moreover, the specific ribozyme has been shown to efficiently retard tumor tissues in xenograft mice which had been inoculated with hTERT-expressing human cancer cells. In this study, we assessed specificity of trans-splicing reaction in cells to evaluate the therapeutic feasibility of the specific ribozyme. In order to analyze the trans-spliced products by the specific ribozyme in hTERT-positive cells, RT, 5'-end RACE-PCR, and sequencing reactions of the spliced RNAs were employed. Then, whole analyzed products resulted from reactions only with the hTERT RNA. This study suggested that the developed ribozyme perform highly specific RNA replacement of the target RNA in cells, hence trans-splicing ribozyme will be one of specific agents for genetic approach to revert cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.515-522
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• 2017

CD133, a pentaspan transmembrane glycoprotein, is generally used as a cancer stem cell marker in various human malignancies, but its biological function in cancer cells, especially in glioma cells, is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that forced expression of CD133 increases the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$ and its downstream chemokines, namely, CCL3, CXCL3 and CXCL5, in U87MG glioma cells. Although there were no apparent changes in cell growth and sphere formation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, in vitro trans-well studies and in vivo tumor xenograft assays showed that neutrophil recruitment was markedly increased by the ectopic expression of CD133. In addition, the clinical relevance between CD133 expression and IL-$1{\beta}$ gene signature was established in patients with malignant gliomas. Thus, these results imply that glioma cells expressing CD133 are capable of modulating tumor microenvironment through the IL-$1{\beta}$ signaling pathway.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.194-199
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• 2024

Overexpression of mitofusin-2 (MFN2), a mitochondrial fusion protein, is frequently associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients. Here, I aimed to investigate the involvement of MFN2 in cervical cancer progression and determine the effect of MFN2 on prognosis in cervical cancer patients. After generating MFN2-knockdown SiHa cells derived from squamous cell carcinoma, I investigated the effect of MFN2 on SiHa cell proliferation using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and determined the mRNA levels of proliferation markers. Colony-forming ability and tumorigenesis were evaluated using a colony-formation assay and tumor xenograft mouse models. The migratory and invasive abilities associated with MFN2 were measured using wound-healing and invasion assays. Wnt/β-catenin-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers related to MFN2 were assessed through quantitative RT-PCR. MFN2-knockdown SiHa cells exhibited reduced proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion, and tumor formation in vivo. The motility of SiHa cells with MFN2 knockdown was reduced through Wnt/β-catenin-mediated EMT inhibition. MFN2 promoted cancer progression and tumorigenesis in SiHa cells. Overall, MFN2 could serve as a therapeutic target and a novel biomarker for cervical cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.4983-4988
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• 2013

Objectives: To establish a taxol-resistant cell line of human ovarian carcinoma (A2780/Taxol) and investigate its biological features. Methods: The drug-resistant cell line (A2780/Taxol) was established by continuous stepwise selection with increasing concentrations of Taxol. Cell morphology was assessed by microscopy and growth curves were generated with in vitro and in vivo tumor xenograft models. With rhodamine123 (Rh123) assays, cell cycle distribution and the apoptotic rate were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Drug resistance-related and signal associated proteins, including P-gp, MRPs, caveolin-1, PKC-${\alpha}$, Akt, ERK1/2, were detected by Western blotting. Results: A2780/Taxol cells were established with stable resistance to taxol. The drug resistance index (RI) was 430.7. Cross-resistance to other drugs was also shown, but there was no significant change to radioresistance. Compared with parental cells, A2780/Taxol cells were significantly heteromorphous, with a significant delay in population doubling time and reduced uptake of Rh123 (p<0.01). In vivo, tumor take by A2780 cells was 80%, and tumor volume increased gradually. In contrast, with A2780/Taxol cells in xenograft models there was no tumor development. FCM analysis revealed that A2780/Taxol cells had a higher percentage of G0/G1 and lower S phase, but no changes of G2 phase and the apoptosis rate. Expression of P-gp, MRP1, MRP2, BCRP, LRP, caveolin-1, PKC-${\alpha}$, Phospho-ERK1/2 and Phospho-JNK protein was significantly up-regulated, while Akt and p38 MARK protein expression was not changed in A2780/Taxol cells. Conclusion: The A2780/Taxol cell line is an ideal model to investigate the mechanism of muti-drug resistance related to overexpression of drug-resistance associated proteins and activation of the PKC-${\alpha}/ERK$ (JNK) signaling pathway.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.92-105
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• 2004

In order to evaluate the anti-tumor and synergic effect of BoJungIkKeeHapDaeChilKi-Tang on doxorubicin, the inhibitory concentration(IC), IC50 and IC90 of single use of doxorubicin and BoJungIkKeeHapDaeChilKi-Tang with their concomitant treatment against MKN-45(Human stomach carcinoma) was observed using MTT(Microculture Tetrazolium test) assay. In addition, their anti-tumor effects were also observed in the xenograft nude mice models agianst MKN-45 cell lines. BoJungIkKeeHapDaeChilKi-Tang has only mimic direct anti-tumor effect against to MKN-45 cell lines but they were decreased general depressed signs induced by implantation of tumor cell lines and increased the total WBC and lymphocyte numbers. So, it is considered or expected that BoJungIkKeeHapDaeChilKi-Tang extracts were reduced by the critical toxicity of doxorubicin and shows favorable synergic effect with doxorubicin and BoJungIkKeeHapDaeChilKi-Tang extracts.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.119-137
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• 2004

In order to evaluate the anti-tumor and synergic effect of Soonkiwhajungtang with doxorubicin, the inhibitory concentration(IC), $IC_{50}\;and\;IC_{90}$ of single use of doxorubicin and Soonkiwhajungtang with their concomitant treatment against Colon-26(Murine Rectum Carcinoma) was observed using MTT(Microculture Tetrazolium test) assay. In addition, their anti-tumor effects were also observed in the xenograft nude mice models agianst to Colon-26 cell lines. Soonkiwhajungtang has only mimic direct anti-tumor effect against to Colon-26 cell lines but they were decreased general depressed signs induced by implantation of tumor cell lines and increased the total WBC and lymphocyte numbers. So, it is considered or expected that Soonkiwhajungtang extracts were reduced the critical toxicity of doxorubicin and shows favorable synergic effect with doxorubidn and Soonkiwhajungtang extracts.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.183-194
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• 2004

In order to evaluate the anti-tumor and synergic effect of Soonkiwhajungtang with doxorubicin, the inhibitory concentration(IC), IC50 and IC90 of single use of doxorubicin and Soonkiwhajungtang with their concomitant treatment against Colon-26(Murine Rectum Carcinoma) was observed using MTT(Microculture Tetrazolium test) assay. In addition, their anti-tumor effects were also observed in the xenograft nude mice models against 3LL cell lines. Soonkiwhajungtang may only mimic direct anti-tumor effects against 3LL cell lines, but signs of worsening induced by implantation of tumor cell lines generally decreased, while the total WBC and lymphocyte numbers increased. Therefore, experimentation suggests that Soonkiwhajungtang extracts reduced the critical toxicity of doxorubicin, and that Soonkiwhajungtang extracts have favorable synergic effects when combined with doxorubicin.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.174-180
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• 2014

D-Pinitol, an anti-diabetic substance, is a naturally occurring compound found in legumes. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of D-pinitol on growth and recurrence of breast cancer. When D-pinitol was treated on MDA-MB-231 or MCF-7 breast cancer cells, it was observed that the viability of the two cancer cell lines was reduced in MTT assay. In order to examine the effect on the growth of breast tumor, mouse xenograft assay was carried out. On day 0, nine millions cells of MDA-MB-231 were injected subcutaneously into nude mouse and D-pinitol was administered orally at the dose of 500 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg body weight for consecutive 45 days. Tumor size was reduced in dose-dependent manner upto 95.4% in 1000 mpk-treated group, compared with the non-treated control group. When D-pinitol was co-administrated with $4{\mu}g$ of doxorubicin, recurrence of breast tumor was delayed by two weeks, compared with the mouse group of doxorubicin monotherapy. Consistent with this data, it was observed that the population of cancer stem cells (CSCs), responsible for recurrence of cancer, within tumor mass was significantly reduced. Taken together, D-pinitol inhibits the growth of breast cancer and relapse of the tumor by suppressing the proliferation of CSCs.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.131-148
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• 2004

In order to evaluate the anti-tumor and synergic effect of Bojungikkeehapdaechilkitang with doxorubicin, the inhibitory concentration(IC), $IC_{50}\;and\;IC_{90}$ of single use of doxorubicin and Bojungikkeehapdaechilkitang with their concomitant treatment against 3LL(Lewis lung carcinoma) was observed using MTT(Microculture Tetrazolium test) assay. In addition, their anti-tumor effects were also observed in the xenograft nude mice models agianst to 3LL cell lines. Bojungikkeehapdaechilkitang has only mimic direct anti-tumor effect against to 3LL cell lines but they were decreased general depressed signs induced by implantation of tumor cell lines and increased the total WBC and lymphocyte numbers. So, it is considered or expected that Bojungikkeehapdaechilkitang extracts were reduced the critical toxicity of doxorubicin and shows favorable synergic effect with doxorubicin and Bojungikkeehapdaechilkitang extracts.