• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Objectives : Many of currently used anti-cancer drugs were developed to target cell death mechanisms and had serious side effects by causing damage to normal cells. Hangambujeongsan or Kangai Fuzheng Powder was a mixture based on the traditional Chinese medicine. It had been used in the local Chinese hospitals to treat cancer patients for decades and had shown a certain level of beneficial effects without major toxic effects. But its mechanism of action had not been elucidated yet. Thus this study aimed to investigate the effects of Kangai Fuzheng Powder in an in vitro experiment. Methods : Cancer lines or RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells were treated with Kangai Fuzheng Powder. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and morphological observation was also performed. Gene expression of cytokines in macrophages was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Phagocytic function assay was also performed in macrophage cells. Results : Kangai Fuzheng Powder had no direct detrimental effect on cancer cells. When macrophages were co-cultured with cancer cells, Kangai Fuzheng Powder had toxic effect on cancer cells. After exposing macrophages to Kangai Fuzheng Powder, macrophages transformed into activated form and the mRNA level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 was significantly enhanced. Phagocytic activity of macrophages was dramatically potentiated. Conclusions : We demonstrated that anti-cancer effect of Kangai Fuzheng Powder was related to activation of macrophages including enhanced cytokine production and phagocytic function.

• Hanyang Medical Reviews
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2013

Cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide despite intense efforts in developing innovative treatments. Current approaches in cancer therapy are mainly directed to a selective targeting of cancer cells to avoid potential side effects associated with conventional therapy. In this respect, Natural killer (NK) cells have gained growing attention and are now being considered as promising therapeutic tools for cancer therapy owing to their intrinsic ability to rapidly recognize and kill cancer cells, while sparing normal healthy cells. NK cells play a key role in the first line of defense against transformed and virus-infected cells. NK cells sense their target through a whole array of receptors, both activating and inhibitory. Functional outcome of NK cell against target cells is determined by the balance of signals transmitted from diverse activating and inhibiting receptors. Despite significant progress made in the role of NK cells attack as a pivotal sentinel in tumor surveillance, the molecular has been that regulate NK cell responses remain unclear, which restricts the use of NK cells as a therapeutic measure. Accordingly, current efforts for NK cell-based cancer therapy have largely relied on the strategies that are based on the manipulation of inhibitory receptor function. However, if we better understand the mechanisms governing NK cell activation, including those mediated by diverse activating receptors, this knowledge can be applied to the development of optimal design for cancer immunotherapy by targeting NK cells.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.45-60
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was guided to estimate inhibitory effects against hepatic metastasis and activation of immunocytes by Carthami Semen Herbal Acupuncture. Methods : Colon26-L5 carcinoma cells were injected through hepatic portal vein to induce hepatic metastatic cancer. Changes in weight, morphology of the cancer were estimated and cytokine level was analyzed to produce immunological changes. Results: The experimental group was significantly decreased metastatic size and proliferation compared with the control group. Observing immunocytes from the spleen of experimental group T-lymphocytes were significantly increased. As compared with control group, the differentiation of total T cell, helper T cell, cytotoxic T cell, Macrophage and NK cell was increased. Measuring the level of cytokine $IFN-{\gamma}$ which stimulates Th 1 was significantly increased in splenocyte with Con A stimuli. $IFN-{\gamma}$ and IL-12 were significantly increased in peritoneal exudate macrophage with LPS stimuli. Conclusion : These findings strongly indicate Carthami Semen Herbal Acupuncture improves immunity to inhibit the growth of cancer and metastasis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.36-39
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• 2002

PKB activation may contribute to resistance to antiproliferative signals and breast cancer progression in part by impairing nuclear import and action of p27. PKB transfection caused cytoplasmic p27 accumulation and cytokine resistance. The nuclear localization region of p27 contains a PKB/Akt consensus site at threonine 157 and p27 phosphorylation by PKB impaired its nuclear import in vitro. PKB/Akt phosphorylated wild type p27 but not p27T157A. PKB activation led to cytoplasmic mislocalization of p27WT but p27T157A remained nuclear. In PKB activated cells, p27WT failed to cause Gl arrest, while the antiproliferative effect of p27T157A was not impaired. Cytoplasmic p27 was seen in 41% (52/128) of primary human breast cancers in association with PKB activation. Thus, we show a novel mechanism whereby PKB impairs p27 function that is associated with an aggressive phenotype in human breast cancer.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2019

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), the most common industrial brominated flame retardant, acts as a cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and immunotoxicant, causing inflammation and tumors. However, the mechanism of TBBPA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in human breast cancer cells is not clear. In human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, treatment with TBBPA significantly induced the expression and promoter activity of MMP-9. Transient transfection with MMP-9 mutation promoter constructs verified that $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 response elements are responsible for the effects of TBBPA. Furthermore, TBBPA-induced MMP-9 expression was mediated by $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 transcription activation as a result of the phosphorylation of the Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Moreover, TBBPA-induced activation of Akt/MAPK pathways and MMP-9 expression were attenuated by a specific NADPH oxidase inhibitor, and the ROS scavenger. These results suggest that TBBPA can induce cancer cell metastasis by releasing MMP-9 via ROS-dependent MAPK, and Akt pathways in MCF-7 cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.142-152
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• 2023

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mediates the cellular antioxidant response, allowing adaptation and survival under conditions of oxidative, electrophilic and inflammatory stress, and has a role in metabolism, inflammation and immunity. Activation of Nrf2 provides broad and long-lasting cytoprotection, and is often hijacked by cancer cells, allowing their survival under unfavorable conditions. Moreover, Nrf2 activation in established human tumors is associated with resistance to chemo-, radio-, and immunotherapies. In addition to cancer cells, Nrf2 activation can also occur in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and facilitate an anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Several cancer cell-derived metabolites, such as itaconate, L-kynurenine, lactic acid and hyaluronic acid, play an important role in modulating the TIME and tumor-TAMs crosstalk, and have been shown to activate Nrf2. The effects of Nrf2 in TIME are context-depended, and involve multiple mechanisms, including suppression of proinflammatory cytokines, increased expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and kynureninase, accelerated catabolism of cytotoxic labile heme, and facilitating the metabolic adaptation of TAMs. This understanding presents both challenges and opportunities for strategic targeting of Nrf2 in cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2485-2489
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• 2012

Purpose: Notch is an important signaling pathway that regulates cell fate, stem cell maintenance and the initiation of differentiation in many tissues. It has been reported that activation of Notch-1 contributes to tumorigenesis. However, whether Notch signaling might have a role in chemoresistance of prostate cancer is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Notch-1 silencing on the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to docetaxel treatment. Methods: siRNA against Notch-1 was transfected into PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were examined in the presence or absence of docetaxel by MTT and flow cytometry. Expression of $p21^{waf1/cip1}$ and Akt as well as activation of Akt in PC-3 cells were detected by Western blot and Real-time PCR. Results: Silencing of Notch-1 promoted docetaxel induced cell growth inhibition, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in PC-3 cells. In addition, these effects were associated with increased $p21^{waf1/cip1}$ expression and decreased Akt expression and activation in PC-3 cells. Conclusion: Notch-1 promotes chemoresistance of prostate cancer and could be a potential therapeutic target.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 2023

Anaplastic thyroid cancer has the highest mortality rate of all thyroid cancers and shows low responsiveness to most treatments. Hongyoung, a reddish-colored potato, is an excellent source of dietary polyphenol containing a large amount of anthocyanins, which has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the effects of Hongyoung extract on apoptosis and invasiveness in SNU-80 anaplastic thyroid cancer cells. The quantification of the total polyphenol content was done by spectrophotometric measurement. Cell growth was measured by using 2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl) 2H tetrazolium, monosodium salt (MTS) assay. Cell cycle was analyzed through FACS analysis. Induction of apoptosis in cells was investigated by annexin V staining using flow cytometer and the expression of caspase-3 and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) through western blot. mRNA expression and protein activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2/-9 were examined by RT-PCR and zymography. As a result, the TPC of Hongyoung was 292.43±8.42 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g dry extract. Hongyoung showed a dose-dependent cell growth inhibition, and the IC₅₀ values was 1,000 ㎍/mL. sub-G1 phase was more than doubled compared to the control group, and S and G2/M phase arrest were also induced. Hongyoung induced apoptosis by increasing FITC-Annexin V-positive cells and increased the activation of caspase-3 (cleaved caspase-3) and PARP (fragmented PARP). Hongyoung significantly inhibited mRNA expression and protein activation of MMP-2/-9 in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-treated SNU-80 cells. Therefore, this study suggests the possibility of development of Hongyoung extract as an anti-cancer agent.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2010

Activation of JNK has long been associated with the apoptotic response induced by various anti-cancer drugs including doxorubicin, vinblastine, and etoposide. In this study, we examined and compared patterns of apoptosis and JNK activation according to three different anti-cancer drugs (daunorubicin, vinblastine, and etoposide) and two different sources of HL60 cells (Jackson Laboratory and ATCC). HL60 cells from Jackson Laboratory (HL60/RPMI) were maintained in RPMI 1640 containing 5% fetal bovine serum and those from ATCC (HL60/IMDM) in IMDM containing 20% fetal bovine serum as to each manufacture's guideline. In general, HL60/RPMI cells were more sensitive to anti-cancer drugs compared to HL60/IMDM cells, demonstrated by the XTT and flow cytometric analyses. Apoptotic pathways after treatment with anti-cancer drugs seemed to be different between HL60/RPMI (daunorubicin and etoposide, caspase 3 dependent, but caspase 8 or 9 independent; vinblastine, caspase 3 independent) and HL60/IMDM (caspase 3 and caspase 9 dependent). The expression of apoptotic protein, BID, was consistent with caspase 3 activation. Immunoblotting of phospho-JNK and JNK kinase assay showed JNK activation by all three anti-cancer drugs in HL60/RPMI, while JNK activation was observed only in vinblastine-treated cells in HL60/IMDM. Our study results suggest that in vitro environmental conditions have a significant influence on JNK mediated apoptosis of HL60 cells by anti-cancer drugs and in vitro culture conditions are important factors in JNK or possibly other MAPK related studies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10501-10504
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• 2015

Background: Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in developed countries. Activated platelets play a key role in inflammation and atherothrombosis, with mean platelet volume (MPV) is an early marker of platelet activation. The aim of the study was to clarify the relevance of MPV in patients with colon cancer. Materials and Methods: We measured MPV levels in 128 patients with colon cancer before and after surgery, and 128 controls matched for age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and smoking status. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for colon cancer were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analyses across MPV quartiles. Results: Patients with colon cancer had higher MPV compared with controls. Surgical tumor resection resulted in a significant decrease in MPV levels (11.4 fL vs 10.7 fL; p<0.001). A positive correlation between MPV and tumor-nodule-metastases (TNM) stage was found. Furthermore, after adjusting for other risk factors, the ORs (95%CIs) for colon cancer according to MPV quartiles were 1.000, 2.238 (1.014-4.943), 3.410 (1.528-7.613), and 5.379 (2.372-12.198), respectively. Conclusions: The findings show that patients with colon cancer have higher MPV levels compared with controls, and these are reduced after surgery. In addition, MPV was found to be independently associated with the presence of colon cancer. Further studies are warranted to assess the utility of MPV as a novel diagnostic screening tool for colon cancer.