• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.240-248
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• 2024

In cancer treatment, multi-target approach has paid attention to a reasonable strategy for the potential agents. We investigated whether (E)-2-methoxy-4-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl) prop-1-en-1-yl) phenol (MMPP) could exert an anticancer effect by dual-regulating VEGFR2 and PPARγ. MMPP showed modulating effects in TNBC type (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468) and luminal A type (MCF7) breast cancer cell lines. MMPP enhanced PPARγ transcriptional activity and inhibited VEGFR2 phosphorylation. MMPP-induced signaling by VEGFR2 and PPARγ ultimately triggered the downregulation of AKT activity. MMPP exhibited anticancer effects, as evidenced by growth inhibition, inducement of apoptosis, and suppression of migration and invasion. At the molecular level, MMPP activated pro-apoptotic proteins (caspase3, caspase8, caspase9, and bax), while inhibiting the anti-apoptotic proteins (bcl2). Additionally, MMPP inhibited the mRNA expressions of EMT-promoting transcription factors. Therefore, our findings showed molecular mechanisms of MMPP by regulating VEGFR2 and PPARγ, and suggested that MMPP has potential to treat breast cancer.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.623-633
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• 2024

This study systematically reviewed the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the assessment of molecular prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer, focusing on the correlation of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) with hormone receptor status and prognostic biomarkers. Our meta-analysis includes data from 52 studies examining ADC values in relation to estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 status. The results indicated significant differences in ADC values among different receptor statuses, with ER-positive, PgR-positive, HER2-negative, and Ki-67-positive tumors having lower ADC values compared to their negative counterparts. This study also highlights the potential of advanced DWI techniques such as intravoxel incoherent motion and non-Gaussian DWI to provide additional insights beyond ADC. Despite these promising findings, the high heterogeneity among the studies underscores the need for standardized DWI protocols to improve their clinical utility in breast cancer management.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2001

In estrogen-dependent MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, $E_2$ at 10 nM stimulated cell proliferation to over 200% compared to the untreated control. EGF and TGF${\alpha}$, which are known as the autocrine/paracrine growth factors induced by $E_2$, also directly stimulated the cell growth in almost as the same extent as $E_2$. DFMO which is the specific inhibitor of ODC could inhibit cell growth even at as low as 0.5 mM. In the treatment with 1 mM DFMO for 4 days, the cell growth was inhibited to 38% of the control. HO-TAM at 1 ${\mu}$M could inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cells to 19% of the control. Those inhibitory effects were also found in the cells stimulated with $E_2$, EGF, and TGF${\alpha}$. The inhibitory effects were found even in 2 days of treatment. However, $E_2$, EGF, and TGF${\alpha}$ did not give any effect in the protein synthesis. Neither DFMO or HO-TAM gave any effect on the total protein synthesis. But the pattern of protein secretion was noticeably influenced by the growth stimulants or inhibitors. Proteins of 160, 52, 42, 36, and 32 kDa belonged to the major secretory proteins. Especially, 42 and 36 kDa proteins were most significantly influenced by the treatment of $E_2$, EGF, or TGF$\alpha$. DFMO and HO-TAM inhibited the secretion of these major proteins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1036-1046
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• 2015

Extracts from Asian medicinal herbs are known to be successful therapeutic agents against cancer. In this study, the effects of three types of herbal extracts on anti-tumor growth were examined. Among the three types of herbal extracts, H9 showed stronger anti-tumor growth effects than H5 and H11 in vivo. To find the molecular mechanism by which H9 inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cell lines, the levels of apoptotic markers were examined. Proapoptotic markers, including cleaved PARP and cleaved caspases 3 and 9, were increased, whereas the anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2 was decreased by H9 treatment. Next, the combined effect of H9 with the chemotherapeutic drugs doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC) on tumor growth was examined using 4T1-tumor-bearing mice. The combined treatment of H9 with AC did not show additive or synergetic anti-tumor growth effects. However, when tumor-bearing mice were co-treated with H9 and the targeted anti-tumor drug trastuzumab, a delay in tumor growth was observed. The combined treatment of H9 and trastuzumab caused an increase of natural killer (NK) cells and a decrease of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Taken together, H9 induces the apoptotic death of tumor cells while increasing anti-tumor immune activity through the enhancement of NK activity and diminishment of MDSC.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 1973

A study on the wood quality from planted Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc. has been undertaken by the University Forest in order to gain results of the gross structural features of stem. For this study some groups of trees were felled and several characteristics such as the degree of stem, slenderness, eccentric growth, heartwood diameter, height of butt sweep and butt-swell were analyzed. The results of the study are as follows. 1) The relation between diameter of log and its height in sample trees are nearly parallel to each other. But their degrees of slenderness in logs cut from intermediate and codominant trees are some what gentle as compared with that of logs from dominant tree. 2) The eccentric growth at transverse section of sample trees is generally decreased with the increase of tree height on all sample trees. 3) On the eccentric growth at transverse section of tree, a rather distinct tendency was noticed that all of sample trees showed the direction of eccentric growth in $R_2$ side. 4) Heartwood diameter appeares to become larger as tree growth decrease under same diameter of logs and log diameter in which heartwood appeares is larger in rapid growth rate trees. 5) The maximum height of butt-sweep generally shows that the larger the breast height diameter of tree is, the smaller its height becomes. On the contrary it was noticed that the larger the breast height diameter of trees, the higher the maximum height of butt-swell became. The direction of butt-sweep and butt-swell were shown in $R_1$ side in all sample trees.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.25-31
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• 2011

This study was conducted to develop the growth model for diameter at breast height (DBH) and basal area (BA) of Larix leptolepis stands grown in eastern mountain areas, Jeollabuk-do and to enhance the precision of the models by adding regional and climatal factors, such as altitude, mean annual rainfall, and mean annual temperature. In results, it was analyzed that Schumacher polymorphic equation might be the best model to estimate DBH and BA growth. In case of the DBH growth model, precision was improved by adding altitude and mean annual rainfall. Moreover, in case of the BA growth model, precision was improved by adding mean annual rainfall. Meanwhile, it would be necessary for more precise model to add various factors, such as stand density, mortality, thinning ratio, and edaphic status along with regional and climatal factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5903-5908
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• 2012

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the combined effects of exemestane and aspirin on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Methods: Antiproliferative effects of exemestane and aspirin, alone and in combination, on growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were assessed using the MTT assay. Synergistic interaction between the two drugs was evaluated in vitro using the combination index (CI) method. The cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry and Western blotting was used to investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2 and Bcl-2. Results: MTT assays indicated that combination treatment obviously decreased the viability of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells compared to individual drug treatment (CI<1). In addition, the combination of exemestane and aspirin exhibited a synergistic inhibition of cell proliferation, significantly arrested the cell cycle in the $G_0/G_1$ phase and produced a stronger inhibitory effect on COX-1 and Bcl-2 expression than control or individual drug treatment. Conclusion: These results indicate that the combination of exemestane and aspirin might become a useful method to the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer. The combination of the two inhibitors significantly increased the response as compared to single agent treatment, suggesting that combination treatment could become a highly effective approach for breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.267-274
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• 2013

The impact of income and education level on the clinical and pathologic characteristics, implementation of clinical breast examination (CBE), and treatment patterns of a small population of Chinese female breast cancer patients was studeied in order to provide a theoretical basis and statistical reference for further nationwide research. We included 484 pathologically confirmed female primary breast cancer inpatients of the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University from February 2003 to January 2004. All cases were reviewed and relevant information was collected using a designed case report form (CRF). Chisquare tests, rank-sum tests, and Fisher's exact tests were used in the analysis. Our analysis showed that: (1) women in different occupation groups had significant differences in tumor size, pre-operative mammography, surgical options, post-operative estrogen receptor (ER), progestin receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) status, and post-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy (P < 0.05); and (2) women with different education levels had statistically significant differences in tumor size, post-operative ER, PR and Her2 status, and post-operative chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy (P < 0.05). In Xi'an, China, women in low-income occupations or with low education levels are more likely to have advanced tumor stages at presentation, lower implementation rate of clinical breast examination, and less treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9233-9239
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• 2014

Background: We aimed to evaluate the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression discordance in matched pairs of primary breast cancer and lymph node metastasis specimens and determine the effect of discordance on prognosis. Materials and Methods: Among all patients diagnosed with lymph node metastases from 2004 to 2007, primary tumors and paired lymph node metastases were resected from 209 patients. The status of ER, PR, and HER2 expression was analyzed immunohistochemically in 200, 194, and 193 patients, respectively. Discordance was correlated with prognosis. Results: Biomarker discordance between primary tumors and paired lymph node metastases was 25.0% (50/200) for ER status, 28.9% (56/194) for PR status, and 14.0% (27/193) for HER2 status. ER positivity was a significant independent predictor of improved survival when analyzed in primary tumors and lymph node metastases. Patients with PR-positive primary tumors and paired lymph node metastases displayed significantly enhanced survival compared to patients with PR-positive primary tumors and PR-negative lymph node metastases. Patients with ER- and PR-positive primary tumors and paired lymph node metastases who received endocrine therapy after surgery displayed significantly better survival than those not receiving endocrine therapy. Similalry treated patients with PR-negative primary tumors and PR-positive paired lymph node metastases also displayed better survival than those not receiving endocrine therapy. Conclusions: Biomarker discordance was observed in matched pairs of primary tumors and lymph node metastases. Such cases displayed poor survival. Thus, it is important to reassess receptor biomarkers used for lymph node metastases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1077-1082
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• 2016

Background: The three standard biomarkers used in breast cancer are the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The Ki-67 index, a proliferative marker, has been shown to be associated with a poorer outcome, and despite absence of standardization of pathological assessment, is widely used for therapy decision making. We aim to study the role of the Ki-67 index in a group of Asian women with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 450 women newly diagnosed with Stage 1 to 3 invasive breast cancer in a single centre from July 2013 to Dec 2014 were included in this study. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between Ki-67 (positive defined as 14% and above) and age, ethnicity, grade, mitotic index, ER, PR, HER2, lymph node status and size. All analyses were performed using SPSS Version 22. Results: In univariable analysis, Ki -67 index was associated with younger age, higher grade, ER and PR negativity, HER2 positivity, high mitotic index and positive lymph nodes. However on multivariable analysis only tumour size, grade, PR and HER2 remained significant. Out of 102 stage 1 patients who had ER positive/PR positive/HER2 negative tumours and non-grade 3, only 5 (4.9%) had a positive Ki-67 index and may have been offered chemotherapy. However, it is interesting to note that none of these patients received chemotherapy. Conclusions: Information on Ki67 would have potentially changed management in an insignificant proportion of patients with stage 1 breast cancer.