• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1552-1556
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• 2005

Silymarin has been known to exert anti-tumoral activity in Korea. However, its molecular mechanism of action is not understood. In this study, we found that silymarin induced apoptosis in androgen-independent prostate cancer DU145 cells as confirmed by DNA fragmentation. Our data demonstrated that silymarin-induced apoptotic cell death was accompanied by activation of caspase-3 and subsequent cleavages of its substrates, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Also, silymarin-induced apoptotic mechanism of DU145 cells involved the induction of Par-4 protein expression. Taken together, these results suggest that silymarin induces the activation of caspase-3, degradation of PARP, increase of Par-4 expression, and eventually leads to apoptotic cell death.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.5031-5035
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• 2016

Docetaxel, recognized as a stabilizing microtubule agent, is frequently administrated as a first line treatment for prostate cancers. Due to high side effects of monotherapy, however, combinations with novel adjuvants have emerged as an alternative strategy in cancer therapy protocols. Here, we investigated the combined effects of stattic and docetaxel on the DU145 prostate cancer cell line. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. To understand molecular mechanisms of stattic action, apoptotic related genes including Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Survivin and Bax were evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. Alteration in the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 genes and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were investigated via the $2^{{\Delta}{\Delta}CT}$ method. The $IC_{50}$ values for docetaxel and stattic were $3.7{\pm}0.9nM$ and $4.6{\pm}0.8{\mu}M$, respectively. Evaluation of key gene expression levels revealed a noticeable decrease in antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 along with an increase in pro-apoptotic Bax mRNA levels (p<0.05). Our results suggest that combination of a STAT3 inhibitor with doctaxel can be considered as a potent strategy for induction of apoptosis via increasing Bax mRNA expression.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.218-227
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• 2009

Purpose: To investigate the radiobiologic effects of neutron and X-ray irradiation on DU-145 prostate carcinoma cells by identifying the differences of HIF-$1\alpha$ expression and apoptosis. Materials and Methods: Nude mice were injected with the human prostate cancer cell line, DU-145, and then irradiated with 2 Gy and 10 Gy X-rays, or 0.6 Gy and 3.3 Gy neutrons, respectively. The mice were sacrificed at 24 hours and 120 hours after irradiation. The expression levels of HIF-$1\alpha$, Bcl-2 and Bax were compared with immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. The apoptotic indexes were compared with the Terminal deoxynucleotidyl biotin-dUTP nick and labeling (TUNEL) assay. Results: At day 1, HIF-$1\alpha$ and Bcl-2 expression decreased, while Bax expression and the number of TUNEL positive cells increased in neutron irradiated groups for the control and X-ray irradiated groups. The Bcl-2/Bax ratio was significantly lower in the neutron irradiated groups regardless of dose (p=0.001). The same pattern of the differences in the expressions of the HIF-$1\alpha$, Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and apoptotic indexes were indentified at day 5. HIF-$1\alpha$ expression was related with Bcl-2 (p=0.031), Bax (p=0.037) expressions and the apoptotic indexes (p=0.016) at day 5. Conclusion: Neutron irradiation showed a decrease in HIF-$1\alpha$, Bcl-2 expression, and Bcl-2/Bax ratio, but increased Bax expression regardless of dose. This study suggests that the differences radiobiological responses between photon and neutron irradiation may be related to different HIF-$1\alpha$ expression and subsequent apoptotic protein expressions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.101-101
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• 1997

As part of a drug discovery program to develope more effective platinum-based anticancer drugs, a series of platinum complexes trans -diaminocyclohexane platinum bi sdiphenylphosphino -ethane (KHPC-002) cis-diaminocyclohexane platinum bisdiphenylphosphino-ethane (KHPC-006) has been evaluated in vitro against 4 human carcinoma cell lines with those of cisplatin using a tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT assay). The cell lines were two human bladder carcinoma cell lines, HT-1197 and HT-1376, human colon carcinoma cell line, HCT-116, and prostate cancer cell line DU-145.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.111-111
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• 1997

As part of a drug discovery program to develope more effective platinum-based anticancer drugs, a series of platinum complexes trans-diaminocyclohexane platinum bi sdiphenylphosphino - ethane ( KHPC- 002) cis-diaminocyclohexane platinum bi sdiphenylphosphino - ethane ( KHPC- 006) has been evaluated in vitro against 4 human carcinoma cell lines with those of cisplatin using a tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT assay). The cell lines were two human bladder carcinoma cell lines, HT-1197 and HT-1376, human colon carcinoma cell line, HCT-116, and prostate cancer cell line DU-145. in vitro cytotoxic potential of each platinum complex was expressed as the cytotoxicity index (Cl, %).

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.369-377
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• 1999

A new series of highly water soluble platinum(II) complexes {Pt(II)[1,3-bis(phenylthio) propane](trans- -1,2-diaminocyclohexane) (PC-1) and Pt(II)[1,3-bis-(phenythio)propane] cis-1,2-diaminocyclohexane(PC-2)} were synthesized, and characterized by their elemental analysis and by various spectroscopic techniques[infrared(IR), 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)]. In vitro antitumor activity of new Pt(II) complexes was tested against P-388 and L-1210 mouse lymphocytic leukemia cell lines, PC-14 / P, PC-14/ADM and PC-14 / CDDP human pulmonary adenocarcinima, DU-145 human prostate carcinoma, HT-1376 human bladder carcinoma, ZR-75-1 human breast carcinoma, MKN-45/P and MKN-45/CDDP human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines using colorimetric MTT[3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2.5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide] assay for cell survival and proliferation. PC-1 showed active against L-1210, P-388 leukemia, human lung, stomach, prostate, bladder and breast cancer cell lines, and the antitumor activity of these compounds were comparable or superior to those of PC-2 and displatin. The nephrotoxicities of PC-1 and PC-2 were found quite less than that of cisplatin using MTT and [3H] thymidine uptake in rabbit proximal tubule cells and human kidney cortical cells. Based on these results, this novel platinum (II) complex compound (PC-1) represents a valuable lead in the development of a new anticancer chemotherapeutic agent capable of improving antitumor activity and low nephrotoxicity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.403-411
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• 2009

Thiacremonone, the main component isolated from heated garlic (Allium sativum L.), is interested for using as a cancer preventive or therapeutic agent since garlic has been known to be useful plant in the treatment of cancers. Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$) is constitutively activated in the prostate cancer and activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ is implicated in drug resistance in cancer cells. Docetaxel, a semisynthetic analog of paclitaxel, is an antineoplastic drug widely used for advanced various cancer. In previous studies, we found that thiacremonone inhibited activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in cancer cells and marcrophages. In the present study, we investigated whether thiacremonone could increase susceptibility of prostate cancer cells (PC-3 and DU145) to docetaxel via inactivation of NF-${\kappa}B$. We found that the combination treatment of thiacremonone (50 ${\mu}g$/ml) with docetaxel (5 nM) was more effective in the inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth and induction of apoptosis accompanied with the significant inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activity than those by the treatment of thiacremonone or docetaxel alone. It was also found that NF-${\kappa}B$ target gene expression of Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 was much more significantly enhanced, but the expression of Bcl-2 was also much more significantly inhibited by the combination treatment. These results indicate that thiacremonone inhibits NF-${\kappa}B$, and enhances the susceptibility of prostate cancer cells to docetaxel. Thus, thiacremonone could be useful as an adjuvant anti-cancer agent.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2011

In Korea, chestnut production is increasing each year, but consumption is far below production. We investigated the effect of chestnut extracts on antioxidant activity and anticancer effects. Ethanol extracts of raw chestnut (RCE) or chestnut powder (CPE) had dose-dependent superoxide scavenging activity. Viable numbers of MDA-MD-231 human breast cancer cells, DU145 human prostate cancer cells, and AGS human gastric cancer cells decreased by 18, 31, and 69%, respectively, following treatment with $200{\mu}g/mL$ CPE for 24 hr. CPE at various concentrations ($0-200{\mu}g/mL$) markedly decreased AGS cell viability and increased apoptotic cell death dose and time dependently. CPE increased the levels of cleaved caspase-8, -7, -3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in a dose-dependent manner but not cleaved caspase-9. CPR exerted no effects on Bcl-2 and Bax levels. The level of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein decreased within a narrow range following CPE treatment. The levels of Trail, DR4, and Fas-L increased dose-dependently in CPE-treated AGS cells. These results show that CPE decreases growth and induces apoptosis in AGS gastric cancer cells and that activation of the death receptor pathway contributes to CPE-induced apoptosis in AGS cells. In conclusion, CPE had more of an effect on gastric cancer cells than breast or prostate cancer cells, suggesting that chestnuts would have a positive effect against gastric cancer.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Licorice has been shown to possess cancer chemopreventive effects. However, glycyrrhizin, a major component in licorice, was found to interfere with steroid metabolism and cause edema and hypertension. The roasting process of licorice modifies the chemical composition and converts glycyrrhizin to glycyrrhetinic acid. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-carcinogenic effects of the ethanol extract of roasted licorice (EERL) and to identify the active compound in EERL. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ethanol and aqueous extracts of roasted and un-roasted licorice were prepared. The active fraction was separated from the methylene chloride (MC)-soluble fraction of EERL and the structure of the purified compound was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The anti-carcinogenic effects of licorice extracts and licochalcone A was evaluated using a MTT assay, Western blot, flow cytometry, and two-stage skin carcinogenesis model. RESULTS: EERL was determined to be more potent and efficacious than the ethanol extract of un-roasted licorice in inhibiting the growth of DU145 and MLL prostate cancer cells, as well as HT-29 colon cancer cells. The aqueous extracts of un-roasted and roasted licorice showed minimal effects on cell growth. EERL potently inhibited growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast, B16-F10 melanoma, and A375 and A2058 skin cancer cells, whereas EERL slightly stimulated the growth of normal IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells and CCD118SK fibroblasts. The MC-soluble fraction was more efficacious than EERL in inhibiting DU145 cell growth. Licochalcone A was isolated from the MC fraction and identified as the active compound of EERL. Both EERL and licochalcone A induced apoptosis of DU145 cells. EERL potently inhibited chemically-induced skin papilloma formation in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Non-polar compounds in EERL exert potent anti-carcinogenic effects, and that roasted rather than un-roasted licorice should be favored as a cancer preventive agent, whether being used as an additive to food or medicine preparations.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.278-284
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• 2006

The beneficial effects of digested onion extracts have been assessed by antimutagenic and anticancer activities by Ames test and SRB test. The total phenolic acids and flavonoids in onion extracts were determined. Red and yellow onions contain more phenolic acids and flavonoids than those in the white onion. Digested, extracts showed antimutagenic activity and anticancer activity, and it appears that the antimutagenic activity of digested extracts of onion against mutagens and anticancer activities were related to their phenols and flavonoids contents. Moreover, the extracts inhibited the proliferation of four human tumorigenic cell lines such as HT-29 (colon), MCF-7 (breast), DU-145 (prostate) and HepG2 (liver), in a dose-dependent manner. Phenolic acids and flavonoids caused oxidative damage to the cancer cell lines and induced apoptosis. Generally, red onion extracts showed effective antimutagenic and anticancer activity, and the digested red onion extracts elicited stronger antimutagenic activity than those of the onion extracts without digestion.