• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.4-7
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• 2009

Although the success of trastuzumab and rituximab for treatment of breast cancer and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, respectively, suggests that monoclonal antibodies(mAbs) will become important therapeutic agents against a wider range of cancers, useful therapeutic Abs are not yet available for the majority of the human cancers because of our lack of knowledge of which antigens (Ags) are likely to become useful targets. We established a procedure for comprehensive identification of such Ags through the extensive isolation of human mAbs that may be therapeutic. Using the phage-display Ab library we isolated a large number of human mAbs that bind to the surface of tumor cells. They were individually screened by immunostaining, and clones that preferentially and strongly stained the malignant cells were chosen. The Ags recognized by those clones were isolated by immunoprecipitation and identified by mass spectrometry(MS). We isolated 2,114 mAbs with unique sequences and identified 25 distinct Ags highly expressed on several carcinomas. Of those 2,114 mAbs 434 bound to specifically to one of the 25 Ags. I am going to discuss how we could select proper target Ags for therapeutic Abs and candidate clones are therapeutic agents.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.167-171
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• 2005

The anticancer and apoptotic effect of chloroform extract from 24 month-fermented doenjang were investigated in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. The chloroform extract of 24 month-fermented doenjang inhibited the AGS gastric cancer cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. It has been confirmed by observing the cell distribution under inverted microscope. Approximately, 48 hour treatment of $100\;{\mu}g/mL$ doenjang extract inhibited AGS cancer cell growth by $76.7\%$, respectively. The growth inhibition may be caused by apoptosis of AGS cancer cells after 48 hour treatment of 24 month-fermented doenjang extract. It has been demonstrated by cell cycle arrest that revealed the shift from $G_2+M\;to\;G_0+G_1$ phase and the formation of apoptotic bodies. The fermentation period playa critical role in cell cycle arrest, in which 24 month-fermented doenjang extract was more effective than 12 month-fermented doenjang extract. The treatment of 24 month-fermented doenjang extract for 48 hours has induced intercellular Bax and decreased Bcl-2 level, indicating that it may regulate the expression level of Bax/Bcl-2 proteins. Thus, 24 month-fermented doenjang extract seems to have anticancer effect via cancer cell growth inhibition induced by apoptosis process.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2022

Comparing the quality characteristics of kimchi were measured and anticancer effects using AGS human gastric cancer cells were observed. Five kinds of kimchi samples were made of Kanghwa Baek kimchi (KB), Kangwha Turnip kimchi (KT), Turnip: Chinese cabbage = 1:1 Baek kimchi (T1B1), Turnip:Chinese cabbage = 4:1 Baek kimchi (T4B1), Turnip mul kimchi (T). As a result T kimchi showed the best fermentation characteristics among the five samples. T kimchi had a lower percentage of the total number of aerobic bacteria, while the number of lactobacillus was higher than that of other samples. The mRNA and protein expression levels of apoptosis-related factors found that T kimchi significantly increases the mRNA expression levels of caspases-3 and caspases-9 in AGS human gastric cancer cells as compared to the other kimchi samples. It showed high anticancer effects in the order of T, T1B1, and KB kimchi. As the anticancer effect of Turnip mul kimchi made only of turnip was higher, the higher the turnip content, the higher the anticancer effect. These results show that there were changes in fermentation characteristics such as pH, acidity, number of lactic acid bacteria, and anticancer effects according to the ratio of turnip and cabbage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.240-245
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• 1999

Growth inhibitory effect of doenjang(Korean soypaste) methanol extracts in SRB assay using AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cell, Hep 3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cell and HT 29 human colon cancer cell was studied. The treatment of doenjang methanol extracts(2mg/assay) to the AGS, Hep 3B and HT 29 cancer cells inhibited the growth of the cancer cells by 55%, 60%, and 71%, respectively. Doenjang methanol extracts exhibited the highest inhibitory effect among other soybean fermented foods and original materials in the SRB assay. In addition, to separate active compounds of doenjang methanol extracts, we fractionated the doenjang with hexane, methanol, dichloromethane, ethylacetate and butanol. Growth inhibitory effect on the AGS, Hep 3B, HT 29 and MG 63 cancer cells was the highest in the fractions of dichloromethane and ethylacetate among other solvent fractions of the doenjang. These results showed that some compounds contained in the fractions of dichloromethane and ethylacetate might play a role on the anticanceric effect of doenjang.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.266-279
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• 2021

The present study examined the cytotoxic effects of a Smilax china L. extract (SCLE) in human cancer (A-549, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, U87-MG, AGS, MKN-74, and SNU-601) and normal MRC-5 fibroblasts, as well as in mesenchymal stem cells derived from dental tissue (DSC). The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for SCLE were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the cancer cell lines (A-549, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, U87-MG, AGS, MKN-74 and SNU-601) than in the MRC-5 and DSC cells. Cell growth was significantly (p<0.05) more inhibited in the cancer cell lines treated with 200 ㎍/ml SCLE than in the normal MRC-5 and DSC, and anoikis-like floating cell morphology was observed in the SCLE-treated cancer cells. The cells detached by SCLE treatment were retrieved daily and assayed for viability and telomerase activity. Cells retrieved at 4 days showed significantly decreased viability and telomerase activity (p<0.05), as well as apoptosis-like abnormal morphology, when compared to cells retrieved in the previous 3 days. The ratio of apoptosis and cells in the G1 phase was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the A-549, AGS, and MCF-7 cancer cells treated with SCLE for 4 days compared to untreated controls. However, after SCLE treatment, cell adhesion was not increased by application of an inhibitor of the associated protein kinase (ROCK) that mainly contributes to the increase in cell attachment. This suggests that the cellular detachment by SCLE is probably controlled by a Rho-independent mechanism(s). These observations indicate that SCLE readily induces anoikis in cancer cells and could serve as a potent agent for cancer chemotherapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.849-860
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• 2015

The anti-cancer activities of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (GC), Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai (UGP) and arsenium sublimatum (SS) extracts, which have been used Oriental medicine therapy for various diseases, were investigated. The treatment of GC, UGP and SS alone, and combined treatment with GC, UGP and SS did not affect the cell viability in the mouse normal cell lines (RAW 264.7 macrophages and C2C12 myoblasts). However, co-treatment with GC, UGP and SS markedly induces apoptosis in human gastric cancer AGS cells, but not in other various cancer cell lines (human lung cancer A549, colon cancer HCT116, liver cancer Hep3B and bladder T24 cells) as evidenced by formation of apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and accumulation of annexin-V positive cells. Co-treatment with GC, UGP and SS effectively induced the expression levels of Fas and Fas ligand, and inhibited the levels IAP family proteins such as XIAP, cIAP-1 and survivin, and anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL proteins compared with treatment with either agent alone. Combined treatment also significantly induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which was associated with the activation of caspases (-3, -8, and -9) and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, the cytotoxic effects induced by co-treatment with GC, UGP and SS were significantly attenuated by pan-caspases inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, indicating an important role for caspases. These results indicated that the caspases were key regulators of apoptosis in response to co-treatment of GC, UGP and SS in human gastric cancer AGS cells and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.202-207
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the inhibitory effect of the water-extract from fermented compositions containing Inonotus obliquus with added Houttuynia cordata on the growth of either human AGS gastric and HCT-15 colon cancer cells or NIH3T3 normal mouse fibroblast cells. Cytotoxic activity on cancer cells was investigated by viable cell count, MTT assay and morphological observation. Mixtures of Inonotus obliquus with added Houttuynia cordata were fermented at $30{\sim}37^{\circ}C$, $50{\sim}60%$ humidity for 30 days, extracted with water, freeze dried, powered, and then dissolved in water for the experiment. In MTT assay, the fermented compositions exhibited inhibitory effects of 13, 25, 40, 67 and 78% for AGS and 22, 40, 50, 69 and 76% for HCT-15 at 0.16, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 4.0 mg/ml, respectively. However, normal NIH3T3 cells were exhibited 86% survival under the same experimental condition. Fermented compositions showed highly inhibitory effect against human cancer cell line HCT-15 and AGS, but not on normal cell line NIH3T3.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.463-477
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Many studies have suggested that Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) and its extract are anticancer agents. However, RVS had limited use because it contains urushiol, an allergenic toxin. By improving an existing allergen-removal extraction method, we developed a new allergen-free Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract (RVSE) with higher flavonoid content. In this study, we examined whether RVSE inhibits the ability of AGS gastric cancer cells to migrate and invade. MATERIALS/METHODS: The flavonoids content of RVSE was analyzed by HPLC. The effects of RVSE on migration and invasion in AGS cells were analyzed by each assay kit. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) protein expression was analyzed by protein antibody array. The Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 were assayed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: RVSE treatment with 0-100 ㎍/mL dose-dependently reduced the ability of AGS cells to migrate and invade. Notably, treatment with RVSE strongly inhibited the expression of MMP-9 and uPA and the phosphorylation of STAT3. In contrast, RVSE treatment dramatically increased the expression of PAI-1. These results indicate that the inhibition of MMP-9 and uPA expression and STAT3 phosphorylation and the stimulation of PAI-1 expression contributed to the decreased migration and invasion of AGS cells treated with RVSE. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that RVSE may be used as a natural herbal agent to reduce gastric cancer metastasis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.488-493
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• 2009

Protulaca oleracea, a widely distributed weed, has been reported to exhibit different health promoting effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of P. oleracea on LPS-stimulated AGS cells. The cytotoxicity of P. oleracea in AGS cells was examined by MTT assay. The anti-oxidative effects of P. oleracea were examined by DPPH assay. RT-PCR was carried out to examine the effect of P. oleracea in the mRNA expression of different inflammatory mediators. MTT assay revealed that P. oleracea have almost no cytotoxity in AGS cells. DPPH radical scavenging activities were better than butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). The mRNA expression of different endogenous anti-oxidative enzymes (SOD2, GPx3 and catalase) were preserved by P. oleracea in AGS cells. The nitric oxide production and expression of iNOS in LPS stimulated RAW264.7 were suppressed in P. oleracea treated groups. Based on these findings, P. oleracea has protective anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1384-1392
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• 2015

Sagantang (SGT), a Korean multiherb formula comprising six medicinal herbs, Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, Poria cocos Wolf, Cimicifuga heracleifolia Komarov, and Artractylodes japonica Koidzumi, was recorded in “Dongeuibogam.” The present study investigated the anticancer potential of SGT in AGS human gastric carcinoma cells. The results indicated that SGT treatment significantly inhibited the growth and viability of AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, in addition to chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation, and the accumulation of annexin-V positive cells. The induction of apoptotic cell death by the SGT treatment was associated with up-regulation of Fas protein expression, truncation of Bid, and down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. The SGT treatment also effectively induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which was associated with the activation of caspases (caspase-3, -8, and -9) and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, a pan-caspase inhibitor significantly blocked the SGT-induced apoptosis and growth suppression in AGS cells. This study suggests that SGT induces caspase-dependent apoptosis through an extrinsic pathway by upregulating Fas, as well as through an intrinsic pathway by modulating Bcl-2 family members in AGS cells. The results suggest that SGT may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human gastric cancer cells. However, further studies will be needed to confirm the potential of SGT in cancer prevention and therapy in an in vivo model and to identify biological active compounds of SGT.