• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6709-6714
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women. The available chemotherapy drugs have been associated with many side effects. Bromelain has novel medicinal qualities including anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, fibrinolytic and anti-cancer functions. Commercially available bromelain is obtained through tedious methods; therefore, recombinant bromelain may provide a cheaper and simpler choice with similar quality. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to assess the effects of commercial and recombinant bromelain on the cytokinetic behavior of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and their potential as therapeutic alternatives in cancer treatment. Cytotoxic activities of commercial and recombinant bromelain were determined using (sulforhodamine) SRB assay. Next, cell viability assays were conducted to determine effects of commercial and recombinant bromelain on MCF-7 cell cytokinetic behavior. Finally, the established growth kinetic data were used to modify a model that predicts the effects of commercial and recombinant bromelain on MCF-7 cells. Results: Commercial and recombinant bromelain exerted strong effects towards decreasing the cell viability of MCF-7 cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 5.13 ${\mu}g/mL$ and 6.25 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively, compared to taxol with an $IC_{50}$ value of 0.063 ${\mu}g/mL$. The present results indicate that commercial and recombinant bromelain both have anti-proliferative activity, reduced the number of cell generations from 3.92 to 2.81 for commercial bromelain and to 2.86 for recombinant bromelain, while with taxol reduction was to 3.12. Microscopic observation of bromelain-treated MCF-7 cells demonstrated detachment. Inhibition activity was verified with growth rates decreased dynamically from 0.009 $h^{-1}$ to 0.0059 $h^{-1}$ for commercial bromelain and to 0.0063 $h^{-1}$ for recombinant bromelain. Conclusions: Commercial and recombinant bromelain both affect cytokinetics of MCF-7 cells by decreasing cell viability, demonstrating similar strength to taxol.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8617-8622
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• 2014

The goal of this study was to establish paclitaxel resistant MCF-7 cells, as in vitro model, to identify the molecular mechanisms leading to acquired chemoresistance in breast cancer cells. Resistant cells were developed by stepwise increasing exposure to paclitaxel. Gene expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 along with protein levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 were evaluated in two resistant cell lines (MCF-7/Pac64 and MCF-7/Pac5 nM). Morphological modifications in paclitaxel resistance cells were examined by light microscopy and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). As an important indicator of resistance to chemotheraputic agents, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio showed a significant increase in both MCF-7/Pac5nM and MCF-7/Pac 64nM cells (p<0.001), while caspase-9 levels were decreased (p<0.001) and caspase-8 was increased (p<0.001). FACS analysis demonstrated that MCF-7/Pac64 cells were smaller than MCF-7 cells with no difference in their granularity. Our results support the idea that paclitaxel induces apoptosis in a mitochondrial-dependent manner. Identifying breast cancer patients with a higher Bcl-2/Bax ratio and caspase 9 level and then inhibiting the activity of these proteins may improve the efficacy of chemotheraputic agents.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.155-165
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• 2006

이 연구는 MCF-7 인간 유방암 세포주에 대한 귀출파징탕(歸朮破癥湯) 추출물의 증식억제효과 세포독성효과 세포사 유발효과를 확인하기 위하여 이루어졌다. MCF-7 인간 유방암 세포주는 Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/F12 (DMEM/F12)에 10% fetal bovine serum(FBS;Gibco) 와 항생제를 가하여 만든 배지를 이용하여 배양하였고, MCPF-7 세포를 96- well plate에 접종한 후 다양한 농도(0~2000g/ml)의 귀출파징탕(歸朮破癥湯)이 든 배지로 처리하고 다양한 시간(48, 96, 192)동안 배양하여 현미경으로 관찰하고 각각 MTS assay kit를 이용하여 세포생존율을 측정하였다. 세포독성은 Sulforhodamine B assay 방법을 이용해 측정하였고 세포사 과정에서 MCF-7세포에서의 caspase 활성화를 측정하기 위해 Western blotting을 수행하여 poly ADP ribose polymerase(PARP)의 절단을 확인하였다. 실험결과 귀출파징탕(歸朮破癥湯) 추출물에 의한 세포성장 및 독성효과는 시간 및 농도에 비례하는 것으로 나타났고 세포고사과정에서 작용하는 caspase의 전 기질인 PARP 절단량이 귀출파징탕(歸朮破癥湯) 처리 농도와 시간에 비례하여 증가하였다. 이것은 caspase-3가 MCF-7 세포의 성장을 억제하는데 중요한 역할을 수행함을 의미한다. 따라서 귀출파징탕(歸朮破癥湯)은 다양한 기전에 의해서 유방암 세포에 대한 억제효과를 가진다는 것을 인식할 수 있다.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.223-228
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• 2015

6-Gingerol exerts anti-tumor effects in various cancer cell models. We evaluated the effect of 6-gingerol on the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and MCF-10A breast epithelial cells to determine whether any growth-inhibitory effects found were attributable to apoptosis, and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action. 6-Gingerol inhibited the viability of both cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner; however, the degree of inhibition was greater in MCF-7 than MCF-10A cells. By flow cytometry, induction of dose- and time-dependent apoptosis was found, and the magnitude of apoptosis was also markedly greater in MCF-7 than MCF-10A cells. Expression of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) was observed in MCF-7 cells treated with 6-gingerol, and further cleavage of PARP occurred in these cells. We suggest that 6-gingerol induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells mainly by promoting caspase-3 expression and subsequent degradation of PARP.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6349-6352
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• 2014

The present study was undertaken to determine the roles of insulin in the growth of transplanted breast cancer in nude mice, and the proliferation and migration of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and assess its influence on downstream signaling pathways. In a xenograft mouse model with injection of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, tumor size was measured every other day. The insulin level and insulin receptor (IR) were increased in the breast cancer patient tissues. Insulin injected subcutaneously around the tumor site in mice caused increase in the size and weight of tumor masses, and promoted proliferation and migration of MCF-7 cells. The effects of insulin on the increase in the proliferation and migration of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were abolished by pretreatment with the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) inhibitor PD98059. Insulin increased the phosphorylation of ERK in the MCF-7 cells. These results indicate that insulin promotes the growth of breast cancer in nude mice, and increases the proliferation and migration of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells via the ERK pathway.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.554-561
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• 2004

Trichostatin A, an antifungal antibiotics, and HC-toxin are potent and specific inhibitors of histone deacetylase activity. Histone deacetylase inhibitors are new class of chemotherapeutic drugs able to induce tumor cell apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest. In this study, the antiproliferative activities of trichostatin A and HC-toxin were compared between estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer cell MCF-7 and estrogen receptor negative human breast cancer cell MDA-MB-468. Trichostatin A and HC-toxin showed potent antiproliferative activity in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells. In MCF-7 cells that contain high level estrogen receptor, trichostatin A and HC-toxin brought about three-times more potent cell growth inhibitory effect than estrogen receptor negative MDA-MB-468 cells. Both trichostatin A and HC-toxin showed cell cycle arrest at G$_2$/M phases of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells in a dose- and time- depen- dent manner. Trichostatin A and HC-toxin also induced apoptosis from MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Results of this study suggested that antipro-liferative effects of trichostatin A and HC-toxin might be involved in estrogen receptor signaling pathway, but cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of trichostatin A and HC-toxin might not be involved in estrogen receptor system of human breast cancer cells.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.228-236
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• 2013

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. Recently anticancer agents have been developed using natural substances. To evaluate the anticancer effect of hydrolysates of silk fibroin (HSF), we investigated the effect of HSF on cell viability and apoptosis of a breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, induced through the mitochondrial pathway. The result showed that HSF decreased cell viability in MCF-7 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, resulting in an increase in the sub-G1 phase cell population. HSF increased the level of the pro-apoptotic Bax protein and decreased the levels of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. In addition, HSF induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through a mitochondria-dependent pathway by increasing levels of cytochtome c, and cleavage of PARP. Taken together, these findings suggest that HSF inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells through a mitochondria and caspase dependent apoptotic pathway.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.209-212
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• 2007

To evaluate the estrogenic activities of di-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-butyl phthalate (DBP), two phthalates known as endocrine disrupters, we used MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. As results, DBP and DEHP had estrogenic effects. In brief, the concentration of maximal MCF-7 cell proliferation was $10^{-7}M\;and\;10^{-8}M$ for DEHP and DBP, respectively. The ratio of maximal cell yield of the test compounds to that of $17{\beta}-estradiol$ was 87.5% for DEHP and 73.4% for DBP. In summary, both DEHP and DBP had cell proliferation potencies in the MCF-7 cell. Potencies ranged from approximately 10 to 100 times less than 17beta-estradiol. DBP was stronger than DEHP in the concentration of maximal efficacy. However, DEHP was stronger than DBP in the MCF-7 cell proliferation. Results from this study suggested that DEHP and DBP may play an important role in the estrogenic activity. Therefore, it is suggested that DEHP and DBP are estrogenic.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2006

All-trans retinoic acid (AtRA) induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in a variety of tumer cells, including MCF-7 cells. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) system has been reported to be associated with the development of cancer. Although MCF-7 cell with AtRA is to be the major stimulus for the cell growth and apoptosis, the mechanism of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)/insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) system remains to be elucidated. Thus, this study was conducted to the effect of AtRA on the gene expression and level of IGF-I and IGFBP-3. In addition, we investigated the involvement of PKC-${\delta}$ on the IGF-I and IGFBP-3 secretion in MCF-7 cell. AtRA(${\geq}10^{-7}M$) decreased the IGF-1 secretion and mRNA expressions, but increased IGFBP-3 secretion and mRNA expressions in MCF-7 cells. Especially, the treatment of AtRA at 72 hours caused a significant reduction in the IGF-I secretion and mRNA expressions but increment in IGFBP-3 secretion and mRNA expressions (p < 0.05). $10^{-7}M$ AtRA activated PKC-${\delta}$ that is one among PKC-$\iota$, ${\alpha}$, ${\lambda}$ and ${\delta}$ in MCF-7 cell. Rotllerin, a PKC-${\delta}$ inhibitor, blocked AtRA-induced inhibition of the IGF-I and mRNA expressions, and increase of lGFBP-3 and mRNA expressions in MCF-7 cell. Together, AtRA inhibited the IGF-I secretion and mRNA expressions, but increased IGFBP-3 secretion and mRNA expressions in MCF-7 cell. Furthermore, AtRA-induced alteration of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 secretion, and the gene expressions were mediated via PKC-${\delta}$ activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1435-1441
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• 2008

In this study, anti-cancer activities of peel of Citrus junos (CJP) and Poncirus trifoliata (PTP) on MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and anti-proliferative effects of cancer cells induced by environmental hormones were investigated. The ethanol extracts of CJP and PTP inhibited cancer cell growth and induced apoptosis at the concentration over 300 mg/ml treatment for 72 hr. Morphological change of MCF-7 breast cancer cells were observed treated with the CJP and PTP of 500 mg/ml concentration for 72 hr, and apoptosis was induced by activation of caspase-3. The proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells was decreased in a dose-dependent manner treated with various concentration of CJP and PTP, when compared with the control at 300 mg/ml, the proliferation of the MCF-7 breast cancer cells of both extracts was decreased over 70% and 80%, respectively.