• Natural Product Sciences
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.31-42
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• 1995

One hundred plants in 43 families used in Malaysian traditional medicine were screened for tumour promoting activity using two methods, the technique of activation of latent Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in Raji cells and the irritation test on mouse ear. Extracts of only eight plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae were found to possess EBV activation factor and to give a positive irritation test in mouse ear. These plants included Euphorbia tirucalli L., E. splendes, Jatropha podagrica, J. gossypyfolia L., Pedilanihus tithymaloides (L.) Poitt., Croton argyratus Bl., Exocoecaria agallocha L. and Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Bl. Seven of these plants are used internally in Malaysian traditional medicine. As such, they pose potential danger in the promotion of initiated cells of the mucosal tissue towards disease. Further studies are required to assess the epidemiological impact of these plants in the development of disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권11호
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• pp.6557-6562
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• 2013

Objective: Specific promoters could improve efficiency and ensure the safety of gene therapy. The aim of our study was to screen examples for lung cancer. Methods: The firefly luciferase gene was used as a reporter, and promoters based on serum markers of lung cancer were cloned. The activity and specificity of seven promoters, comprising CEACAM5 (carcinoembryonic antigen, CEA), GRP (Gastrin-Releasing Peptide), KRT19 (cytokeratin 19, KRT), SFTPB (surfactant protein B, SP-B), SERPINB3 (Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen, SCCA), SELP (Selectin P, Granule Membrane Protein 140kDa, Antigen CD62, GMP) and DKK1 (Dickkopf-1) promoters were compared in lung cancer cells to obtain cancer-specific examples with strong activity. Results: The CEACAM5, DKK1, GRP, SELP, KRT19, SERPINB3 and SFTPB promoters were cloned. Furthermore, we successfully constructed recombinant vector pGL-CEACAM5 (DKK1, GRP, SELP, KRT19, SERPINB3 and SFTPB) contained the target gene. After cells were transfectedwith recombinant plasmids, we found that the order of promoter activity from high to low was SERPINB3, DKK1, SFTPB, KRT19, CEACAM5, SELP and GRP and the order for promoters regarding specificity and high potential were SERPINB3, DKK1, SELP, SFTPB, CEACAM5, KRT19 and GRP. Conclusion: The approach adopted is feasible to screen for new tumour specific promoters with biomarkers. In addition, the screened lung-specific promoters might have potential for use in lung cancer targeted gene therapy research.