• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.134-139
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• 2016

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is a strong negative regulator of T lymphocytes in tumor-microenvironment. By engaging PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) on tumor cells, PD-1 on T cell surface inhibits anti-tumor reactivity of tumor-infiltrating T cells. Systemic blockade of PD-1 function using blocking antibodies has shown significant therapeutic efficacy in clinical trials. However, approximately 10 to 15% of treated patients exhibited serious autoimmune responses due to the activation of self-reactive lymphocytes. To achieve selective activation of tumor-specific T cells, we generated T cells expressing a dominant-negative deletion mutant of PD-1 (PD-1 decoy) via retroviral transduction. PD-1 decoy increased IFN-γ secretion of antigen-specific T cells in response to tumor cells expressing the cognate antigen. Adoptive transfer of PD-1 decoy-expressing T cells into tumor-bearing mice potentiated T cell-mediated tumor regression. Thus, T cell-specific blockade of PD-1 could be a useful strategy for enhancing both efficacy and safety of anti-tumor T cell therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권8호
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• pp.3829-3833
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• 2016

Inhibition of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) may improve the efficacy of cancer therapy. Polysaccharide extracted from polygonatum can selectively inhibit the growth of prostate-CAFs (p<0.001) without inhibiting the growth of normal fibroblasts (NAFs). Polysaccharides from polygonatum stimulate autophagy of prostate-CAFs. 3-methyl-adenine(3-MA) is an autophagy inhibitor. 3-MA was added to prostate-CAFs with polysaccharide from polygonatum to determine whether autophagy plays an important role in the restrained effect. Finally, polysaccharide from polygonatum treatment significantly increased the activation of Beclin-1 and LC3, key autophagy proteins. Polysaccharide from polygonatum stimulates autophagy of prostate-CAFs and inhibits prostate-CAF growth, indicating that a novel anti-cancer strategy involves inhibiting the growth of prostate-CAFs.

• 종양간호연구
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.12-19
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• 2012

Purpose: To examine the levels of physical activity (PA) and diet quality, socio-demographic and clinical correlates, and identify associations with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among breast cancer survivors. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional study design. A total of 74 breast cancer survivors who had completed their primary cancer therapy were recruited from a comprehensive cancer center in Korea. Measurements used included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Diet Quality Index, and the EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: Only twenty-six women (35.1%) met the American Cancer Society criteria of weekly PA, while most participants (93.2%) displayed good or excellent diet quality. Those less likely to meet the PA criteria were older women, women who had a lower economic level, and women not receiving anti-hormone therapy. However, there was no significant factor associated with diet quality. Women who met the criteria for PA displayed significantly better global QOL than women who did not meet the criteria. No significant differences were found in HRQOL between women who did and did not meet the diet quality criteria. Conclusion: Nurses should be aware of breast cancer survivors who are older and who have a low economic status when assessing and screening the level of PA to improve HRQOL.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.85-98
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• 2016

The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are key regulators of cell growth and survival in physiological and pathological processes. Aberrant MAPK signaling plays a critical role in the development and progression of human cancer, as well as in determining responses to cancer treatment. The MAPK phosphatases (MKPs), also known as dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs), are a family of proteins that function as major negative regulators of MAPK activities in mammalian cells. Studies using mice deficient in specific MKPs including MKP1/DUSP1, PAC-1/DUSP2, MKP2/DUSP4, MKP5/DUSP10 and MKP7/DUSP16 demonstrated that these molecules are important not only for both innate and adaptive immune responses, but also for metabolic homeostasis. In addition, the consequences of the gain or loss of function of the MKPs in normal and malignant tissues have highlighted the importance of these phosphatases in the pathogenesis of cancers. The involvement of the MKPs in resistance to cancer therapy has also gained prominence, making the MKPs a potential target for anti-cancer therapy. This review will summarize the current knowledge of the MKPs in cancer development, progression and treatment outcomes.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.221-234
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• 2019

암은 유전적, 대사질환적 그리고 감염성 질환 등에 의해 유발되는 생명을 위협하는 심각한 질환으로서, 세포의 성장이 정상적으로 통제되지 않으며, 공격적인 형태로 주변의 조직이나 장기로 침범하는 경향을 보이는 생명을 심각하게 위협하는 질병이다. 지난 수십 년 간, 인류의 건강을 위협하는 암을 정복하기 위한 지속적인 노력이 있었고, 암 신생 기전 및 항암제 연구가 항암제 내성에 대한 연구와 함께 다양한 연구주제로 다루어져 왔다. Hinokitiol (${\beta}$-thujaplicin)은 측백나무과 편백속에 속하는 나무에서 분비되는 terpenoid 물질로서, 항염증작용, 항균작용 및 몇몇 암세포 주에서 autophagy를 통한 항암효과가 있는 것으로 잘 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는, hinokitiol이 세포 영양상태의 변화유무에 관계없이, transcription factor EB (TFEB)의 핵으로의 이동을 촉진한다는 것을 확인하였다. TFEB의 핵으로의 이동은 autophagy 및 lysosome관련 유전자의 발현을 촉진시키고, 세포질 내에 증가된 autosome과 lysosomal puncta의 관찰을 가능하게 하였다. Hinokitiol를 HCC827세포에 처리한 경우에서, 세포 내 autophagy의 증가와 더불어, mitochondria의 hyper-fragmentation과 mitochondria의 authophagic degradation (mitophagy)가 함께 증가되는 것이 관찰되었다. Hinokitiol은 자궁경부암 세포주인 HeLa세포와 비소세포 폐암 세포주인 HCC827에서 암세포 특이 독성을 나타내었다. 더욱이, TFEB 과발현을 통해 autophagy를 인위적으로 증가시킨 HeLa 세포에서 hinokitiol에 대한 세포독성은 더욱 강화된 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 결과들을 통해, hinokitiol은 TFEB의 핵으로의 이동을 촉발시키는 강력한 autophagy inducer임을 확인할 수 있었다. 본 연구에서 처음으로 확인된 hinokitiol에 의한 TFEB의 활성화 및 비소세포성 암세포에서 항암효과의 상승작용은 다양한 항암제 저항성 세포들에 대한 새로운 치료법 및 대체요법 개발과 관련된 의미 있는 결과로 향후, 분자수준의 작용기작에 대한 추가적인 연구가 수행되어야 할 것으로 사료된다.

• BMB Reports
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.131-138
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• 2013

During cancer progression, bone marrow derived myeloid cells, including immature myeloid cells and macrophages, progressively accumulate at the primary tumour site where they contribute to the establishment of a tumour promoting microenvironment. A marked infiltration of macrophages into the stromal compartment and the generation of a desmoplastic stromal reaction is a particular characteristic of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and is thought to play a key role in disease progression and its response to therapy. Tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) foster PDA tumour progression by promoting angiogenesis, metastasis, and by suppressing an anti-tumourigenic immune response. Recent work also suggests that TAMs contribute to resistance to chemotherapy and to the emergence of cancer stem-like cells. Here we will review the current understanding of the biology and the pro-tumourigenic functions of TAMs in cancer and specifically in PDA, and highlight potential therapeutic strategies to target TAMs and to improve current therapies for pancreatic cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권9호
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• pp.4039-4044
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects and mechanisms of immunochemotherapy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells. Materials and Methods: In order to detect whether 5-FU+IL-2 could effectively inhibit tumor growth in vivo, we established an A549-bearing nude mouse model. The cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells was evaluated using a standard chromium release assay. To evaluate the relevance of NK cells in 5-FU+IL-2-mediated tumor inhibitory effects, we depleted NK cells in A549-bearing mice by injecting anti-asialo-GM-1 antibodies. Effects of 5-FU+IL-2 on the expression and promoter activity of NKG2D ligands (MICA/MICB) in A549 cells in vitro were also assessed. Results: In A549-bearing nude mice, combination therapy significantly inhibited tumor growth in comparison with monotherapy with 5-FU or IL-2 and enhanced the recognition and lysis of tumor cells by NK cells. Further study of mechanisms showed that NK cells played a vital role in the anticancer immune response of 5-FU+IL-2 immunochemotherapy. In addition, the combination therapy synergistically stimulated the expression and promoter activity of MICA/MICB. Conclusions: 5-FU and IL-2 immunochemotherapy significantly inhibited tumor growth and activated NK cytotoxicity in vivo, and these effects were partly impaired after depleting NK cells in tumor-bearing mice. Combination treatment of 5-FU and IL-2 upregulated the expression and the promoter activity of MICA/MICB in A549 cells, which enhanced the recognition of A549 cells by NK cells. All of the data indicated that immunochemotherapy of 5-FU and IL-2 may provide a new treatment option for patients with lung cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.207-223
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• 2023

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Under the standard of care, patients with advanced GC (AGC) have a median survival time of approximately 12-15 months. With the emergence of immunotherapy as a key therapeutic strategy in medical oncology, relevant changes are expected in the systemic treatment of GC. In the phase III ATTRACTION-2 trial, nivolumab, a monoclonal anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) antibody, as a third- or later-line treatment improved overall survival (OS) compared with placebo in patients with AGC. Furthermore, nivolumab in combination with 5-fluorouracil and platinum as a first-line treatment improved OS in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-negative AGC in the global phase III CheckMate-649 study. Another anti-PD-1 antibody, pembrolizumab, in combination with trastuzumab and cytotoxic chemotherapy as a first-line treatment, significantly improved the overall response rate in patients with HER2-positive AGC. Therefore, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are essential components of the current treatment of GC. Subsequent treatments after ICI combination therapy, such as ICI rechallenge or combination therapy with agents having other modes of action, are being actively investigated to date. On the basis of the success of immunotherapy in the treatment of AGC, various clinical trials are underway to apply this therapeutic strategy in the perioperative and postoperative settings for patients with early GC. This review describes recent progress in immunotherapy and potential immunotherapy biomarkers for GC.

• 한국독성학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국독성학회 2003년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.163-163
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• 2003

Difficulties of long-tenn survival of lung cancer patients treated with conventional therapies require the need for novel approaches and gene therapy holds promise in this area. Several genes are known to have anti-tumor activities and have been used as a gene of delivery, however, a number of problems such as efficiency, specificity of the gene delivery hinder the application of gene therapy.(omitted)

• BMB Reports
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• 제51권3호
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• pp.119-125
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• 2018

The Hippo pathway plays prominent and widespread roles in various forms of human carcinogenesis. Specifically, the Yes-associated protein (YAP), a downstream effector of the Hippo pathway, can lead to excessive cell proliferation and the inhibition of apoptosis, resulting in tumorigenesis. It was reported that the YAP is strongly elevated in multiple types of human malignancies such as breast, lung, small intestine, colon, and liver cancers. Recent work indicates that, surprisingly, Hippo signaling components' (SAV1, MST1/2, Lats1/2) mutations are virtually absent in human cancer, rendering this signaling an unlikely candidate to explain the vigorous activation of the YAP in most, if not all human tumors and an activated YAP promotes the resistance to RAF-, MAPK/ERK Kinase (MEK)-, and Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted inhibitor therapy. The analysis of YAP expressions can facilitate the identification of patients who respond better to an anti-cancer drug treatment comprising RAF-, MEK-, and EGFR-targeted inhibitors. The prominence of YAP for those aspects of cancer biology denotes that these factors are ideal targets for the development of anti-cancer medications. Therefore, our report strongly indicates that the YAP is of potential prognostic utility and druggability in various human cancers.