• BMB Reports
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• 제53권10호
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• pp.512-520
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• 2020

T-cell-based cancer immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cells, have significant anti-tumor effects against certain types of cancer, providing a new paradigm for cancer treatment. However, the activity of tumor infiltrating T-cells (TILs) can be effectively neutralized in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of most solid tumors, rich in various immunosuppressive factors and cells. Therefore, to improve the clinical outcomes of established T-cell-based immunotherapy, adjuvants that can comprehensively relieve multiple immunosuppressive mechanisms of TME are needed. In this regard, recent studies have revealed that metformin has several beneficial effects on anti-tumor immunity. In this mini-review, we understand the immunosuppressive properties of TME and how metformin comprehensively enhances anti-tumor immunity. Finally, we will discuss this old friend's potential as an adjuvant for cancer immunotherapy.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.147-152
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• 2009

Lycopus lucid us Turcz is well known as traditional Chinese medicine, and it has been shown to exhibit antiinflammatory, -allergic and -oxidative effect. However, its anti-cancer properties have not been examined yet. In this study, we investigated the effect of the methanol extract of Lycopus lucid us Turcz on anti-cancer effect in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Treatment of Lycopus lucidus Turcz extract induced apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation in dose- and time-dependent manner. Apoptosis in the MCF-7 cells was characterized with the changes in nuclear morphology; decrease of Bcl-2 and caspase-7 expression; and increase of cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP). Furthermore, treatment of Lycopus lucidus Turcz extract caused the down-regulation of cell cycle-related protein including, cdk4, cyclin D1 and E2F-1. These results suggest that Lycopus lucidus Turcz might have the therapeutic value against human breast cancer cells.

• Mycobiology
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.21-27
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• 2009

In the present study, the anti-cancer effects of ginseng fermented with Phellinus linteus (GFPL) extract were examined through in vitro and in vivo assays. GFPL was produced by co-cultivating ginseng and Phellinus linteus together. Ginsenoside Rg3, Rh1 and Rh2 are important mediators of anti-angiogenesis and their levels in GFPL were enriched 24, 19 and 16 times, respectively, more than that of ginseng itself through the fermentation. GFPL exhibited distinct anti-cancer effects, including growth inhibition of the human lung carcinoma cell line A549, and promotion of immune activation by stimulating nitric oxide (NO) production in Raw 264.7 cells. Further evidence supporting anti-cancer effects of GFPL was its significant prolongment of the survival of B16F10 cancer cell-implanted mice. These results suggest that the GFPL may be a candidate for cancer prevention and treatment through immune activation and anti-angiogenic effects by enriching Rg3, Rh1 and Rh2.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제60권2호
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• pp.79-83
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• 2020

Fenbendazole (FBZ) is a benzimidazole anthelmintic that has been widely used in treatments for gastrointestinal parasites including pinworms and roundworms in animals. Recently, some studies demonstrated that FBZ has anti-cancer effects related to disruption of microtubule polymerization. In this study, we investigated whether FBZ has anti-cancer activity in HL-60 cells, a human leukemia cell line, and assessed its relationship with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). FBZ treatment at 0.25-1 μM significantly decreased the metabolic activity of HL-60 cells. The mitochondrial membrane potential of FBZ-treated HL-60 cells decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Apoptosis analysis using annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining demonstrated that 1 μM FBZ increased the percentages of cells in apoptosis and necrosis. In addition, Hoechst 33342 staining showed the presence of broken nuclei in HL-60 cells treated with 0.5 and 1 μM FBZ. To investigate the anti-cancer mechanism of FBZ, HL-60 cells were treated with FBZ in the absence or presence of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), an inhibitor of ROS production. NAC significantly recovered the decreased metabolic activity of HL-60 induced by 0.5 and 1 μM FBZ treatments. This study provides evidence that FBZ has anti-cancer activity in HL-60 cells provided, in part, via ROS production.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물공학회 2005년도 생물공학의 동향(XVII)
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• pp.108-109
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• 2005

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.93-96
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• 2009

This study was attempted to investigate the anti-hypertensive activity of Solanum tuberosum, cv. Gui valley. Ethanol extract of Gui vally (EGV) increased free radical scarvenge activity up to 91.6% of control at $200{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. It's anti-oxidant activity is similar to 10 uM of ascorbic acid, well known as antioxidant. EGV inhibited Angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in vitro. ACE plays a important role in regulation of blood pressure and ACE inhibitors are important for the treatment of hypertension. Anti-hypertensive activity of EGV in vivo was assessed in lead acetate (LAT)-induced hypertensive rats for 8 weeks. Elevated blood pressure in control group was significantly decreased by EGV at 200 mg/kg. Also, ACE activity in blood was also suppressed by EGV treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that EGV has an anti-hypersive activity via inhibition of ACE and can be used for the treatment or prevention of hypertension.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.503-511
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• 2018

Triclosan (TCS) and bisphenol A (BPA) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that interfere with the hormone or endocrine system and may cause cancer. Kaempferol (Kaem) and 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) are phytoestrogens that play chemopreventive roles in the inhibition of carcinogenesis and cancer progression. In this study, the influence of TCS, BPA, Kaem, and DIM on proliferation and apoptotic abilities of VM7Luc4E2 breast cancer cells were examined. MTT assay revealed that TCS ($0.1-10{\mu}M$), BPA ($0.1-10{\mu}M$) and E2 ($0.01-0.0001{\mu}M$) induced significant cell proliferation of VM7Luc4E2 cells, which was restored to the control (0.1% DMSO) by co-treatment with Kaem ($30{\mu}M$) or DIM ($15{\mu}M$). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production assays showed that TCS and BPA inhibited ROS production of VM7Luc4E2 cells similar to E2, but that co-treatment with Kaem or DIM on VM7Luc4E2 cells induced increased ROS production. Based on these results, the effects of TCS, BPA, Kaem, and DIM on protein expression of apoptosis and ROS production-related markers such as Bax and Bcl-xl, as well as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related markers such as $eIF2{\alpha}$ and CHOP were investigated by Western blot assay. The results revealed that TCS, and BPA induced anti-apoptosis by reducing ROS production and ER stress. However, Kaem and DIM effectively inhibited TCS and BPA-induced anti-apoptotic processes in VM7Luc4E2 cells. Overall, TCS and BPA were revealed to be distinct xenoestrogens that enhanced proliferation and anti-apoptosis, while Kaem and DIM were identified as natural chemopreventive compounds that effectively inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation and increased anti-apoptosis induced by TCS and BPA.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effect of Damina 909 in human cancer cell lines and tumor-xenografted nude mice to elucidate its potential in treating many cancers. Damina 909 treatment resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells. Our in vivo study showed that the weight of pancreatic tumors in Damina 909-treated group were the lighter than control group. Consequently, the intake of food and water in Damina 909-treated group did not change, while those in control group were steadily decreased over a period of treatment. Moreover, Damina 909 treatment elevated the protein expression of p53 and p21 in pancreatic tumor of xenografted nude mice. In summary, compare to other human cancer cells such as prostate and hepatocyte, Damina 909 is most effectively inhibited proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells by increasing the expression of tumor suppressor genes. This led us to speculate that a candidate substance for effective cancer therapy of pancreatic cancer might be contained in Damina 909.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제59권3호
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• pp.189-225
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• 2021

The use of albendazole and mebendazole, i.e., benzimidazole broad-spectrum anthelmintics, in treatment of parasitic infections, as well as cancers, is briefly reviewed. These drugs are known to block the microtubule systems of parasites and mammalian cells leading to inhibition of glucose uptake and transport and finally cell death. Eventually they exhibit ovicidal, larvicidal, and vermicidal effects on parasites, and tumoricidal effects on hosts. Albendazole and mebendazole are most frequently prescribed for treatment of intestinal nematode infections (ascariasis, hookworm infections, trichuriasis, strongyloidiasis, and enterobiasis) and can also be used for intestinal tapeworm infections (taeniases and hymenolepiasis). However, these drugs also exhibit considerable therapeutic effects against tissue nematode/cestode infections (visceral, ocular, neural, and cutaneous larva migrans, anisakiasis, trichinosis, hepatic and intestinal capillariasis, angiostrongyliasis, gnathostomiasis, gongylonemiasis, thelaziasis, dracunculiasis, cerebral and subcutaneous cysticercosis, and echinococcosis). Albendazole is also used for treatment of filarial infections (lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, loiasis, mansonellosis, and dirofilariasis) alone or in combination with other drugs, such as ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine. Albendazole was tried even for treatment of trematode (fascioliasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, and intestinal fluke infections) and protozoan infections (giardiasis, vaginal trichomoniasis, cryptosporidiosis, and microsporidiosis). These drugs are generally safe with few side effects; however, when they are used for prolonged time (>14-28 days) or even only 1 time, liver toxicity and other side reactions may occur. In hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, possibly Ascaris lumbricoides, Wuchereria bancrofti, and Giardia sp., there are emerging issues of drug resistance. It is of particular note that albendazole and mebendazole have been repositioned as promising anti-cancer drugs. These drugs have been shown to be active in vitro and in vivo (animals) against liver, lung, ovary, prostate, colorectal, breast, head and neck cancers, and melanoma. Two clinical reports for albendazole and 2 case reports for mebendazole have revealed promising effects of these drugs in human patients having variable types of cancers. However, because of the toxicity of albendazole, for example, neutropenia due to myelosuppression, if high doses are used for a prolonged time, mebendazole is currently more popularly used than albendazole in anti-cancer clinical trials.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• 제65권2호
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• pp.83-88
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• 2022

Although it has been intensively studied over the past few decades, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers. Eriodictyol, a plant-derived flavonoid mainly found in citrus fruits, exerts diverse biological effects, including anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the anticancer properties of eriodictyol and its mechanisms of action in pancreatic cancer cells. In both SNU213 and Panc-1 cells, eriodictyol decreased viability, induced apoptosis, and decreased clonogenicity. In addition, eriodictyol treatment increased the phosphorylation level of JNK and decreased the phosphorylation levels of ERK, FAK, and AKT. These observations provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of eriodictyol-induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cell lines, and could contribute to the development of candidate compounds for treating pancreatic cancer.