• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2016

Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by comedo, papule, cyst, nodule and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Meanwhile, it is also induced by adverse event of drugs. Among them, acneiform folliculitis is a side effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, which is an anticancer agent, and its incidence may occur in upward of 75 ~ 100% of cases. The main method of acne vulgaris treatment is oral antibiotics, retinoids, topical medication and so on. However, it is limitation that teratogenicity caused by retinoids and antibiotic resistance increased by using antibiotics. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of topical recombinant human (rh) EGF in treating facial acne vulgaris. Twenty three Koreans (age: 10 ~ 29 years) with mild to moderate acne vulgar participated in the study and applied topical rhEGF cream (trouble control EGF) with 3 products (trouble control clarifying cleansing foam, trouble control all-clear filling toner, redroll calming moisture) on their face twice daily for four weeks. Several assessment methods were applied: Acne lesion counts score by investigator's global assessment, efficacy and satisfaction score by subjects. Skin sebum output level, hydration level and redness level were also measured at each visit. At the final visit, skin sebum level, transepidermal water loss, skin redness statistically decreased and acne lesions (comedone, papule) were statistically reduced. No severe side effects were observed during the study. In conclusion, topical rhEGF seems to be an effective and safe adjuvant treatment option for mild acne vulgaris.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2735-2738
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• 2012

Background: Our objective was to clarify the clinical and biological characteristics of basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) and non-basal-like breast cancer (TN3BKE) in Heilongjiang. Methods: We examined, by immunohistochemistry, expression of biological markers cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and B cell specific moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1( Bmi-1) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We studied the correlation between BLBC and several factors related to tumor progression, along with its prognostic value. Results: In the 229 cases of operable TNBC, BLBC was detected in 178 (77.7%) and TN3BKE- in 51 (22.2%). There was no significant difference in clinicopathological factors between them, However, BLBC was significantly associated with Bmi-1 expression (P=0.000) and shorter disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.045) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.041). Conclusions: Compared with the non-basal group, patients with BLBC have a high expression of Bmi-1 and a poor prognosis.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Nobongsangki-Jeong on skin rash caused by Olmutinib. Methods: A female Non-Small cell lung carcinoma patient (Adenocarcinoma, Stage IV, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor positive) suffered from skin rash due to the side effect of Olmutinib administration. She was treated with Nobongsangki-Jeong for the symptom management for 14 days. The clinical outcomes were measured by numeric rating scale (NRS) and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 4.03. Results: After treatment, skin rash was improved from NRS 5 to 1. Pruritus and pain of skin were improved from NCI-CTCAE grade 2 to 1. Conclusion: This case study suggests that Nobongsangki-Jeong may have the efficacy for the treatment of skin rash caused by Olmutinib.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.410-427
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• 2023

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have provided novel tools for rapid and precise pathologic diagnosis. The introduction of digital pathology has enabled the acquisition of scanned slide images that are essential for the application of AI. The application of AI for improved pathologic diagnosis includes the error-free detection of potentially negligible lesions, such as a minute focus of metastatic tumor cells in lymph nodes, the accurate diagnosis of potentially controversial histologic findings, such as very well-differentiated carcinomas mimicking normal epithelial tissues, and the pathological subtyping of the cancers. Additionally, the utilization of AI algorithms enables the precise decision of the score of immunohistochemical markers for targeted therapies, such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and programmed death-ligand 1. Studies have revealed that AI assistance can reduce the discordance of interpretation between pathologists and more accurately predict clinical outcomes. Several approaches have been employed to develop novel biomarkers from histologic images using AI. Moreover, AI-assisted analysis of the cancer microenvironment showed that the distribution of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was related to the response to the immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, emphasizing its value as a biomarker. As numerous studies have demonstrated the significance of AI-assisted interpretation and biomarker development, the AI-based approach will advance diagnostic pathology.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.330-337
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• 2003

The effect of sixteen excipients on the transport of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) across Caco-2 cell monolayers was examined at $37^{\circ}C$. The apparent apical to basolateral (A-B) permeability ($P_{app}$) of 30 $\mu$ M rhEGF was $8.15\times 10^{-7}$ cm/sec, indicative of a poor level of absorption in the GI tract. The Papp was 1.7- and 6.3-fold greater than the $P_{app}$ in the basolateral to apical (B-A) direction and the A-B permeability of mannitol, respectively, and decreased dramatically to a negligible level at $4^{\circ}C$, consistent with a receptor mediated transcytosis of rhEGF. The stability of rhEGF was very poor, undergoing more than 85% degradation in 2 h in the transport medium at $37^{\circ}C$. A significant increase in the $P_{app}$ could be achieved by the addition of certain excipients, as exemplified by 23, 21, 20 and 16-fold increases, in the presence of sodium taurochenodeoxycholate (NaTCDC), sodium taurodeoxycholate (NaTDC), sodium glycodeoxycholate (NaGDC) and sodium laurylsulfate (SLS) (all at a concentration of 1 % w/v), respectively. A significant increase in stability could also be achieved by the addition of some of the excipients, as represented by 1 % SLS, which nearly completely stabilized the rhEGF. Unfortunately, however, an increase in the $P_{app}$ of rhEGF could not be achieved without a simultaneous and extensive decrease in the integrity of the cell membranes. Thus, more efficient excipients, that specifically enhance the permeation of rhEGF and do not alter the membrane integrity, should be pursued in order to safely enhance the permeation of rhEGF.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4959-4964
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• 2015

Background: To assess the immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) neu receptor in breast cancer and their associations with various clinicopathological characteristics. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of women who presented with primary, unilateral breast cancer in the Department of Medical Oncology at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Delhi, India during the period from January 2008 to December 2011. Data were retrieved from the medical records of the hospital including both early and locally advanced cancer cases. ER, PgR and HER2neu expression in these patients was assessed and triple negative patients were identified. Associations of triple negative and non-triple negative groups with clinicopathological characteristics were also evaluated. Results: A total of 1,284 women (mean age 52.1 years, 41.9% premenopausal) were included in the analysis. Hormone receptor positivity (ER and/or PgR) was seen in 63.4% patients, while 23.8% of tumors were triple negative. Only 23.0% were HER2 positive. Around 10.0% of tumors were both ER and HER2 positive. ER and PgR positivity was significantly associated with negative HER2 status (p-value <0.0001). Younger age, premenopausal status, higher tumor grade, lymph node negativity, advanced cancer stage, and type of tumor were strongly associated with triple negativity. Significantly, a smaller proportion of women had ductal carcinoma in situ in the triple negative group compared with the non-triple negative group (35.6% versus 60.8%, p-value<0.01). Conclusions: The present analysis is one of the largest studies from India. The majority of the Indian breast cancer patients seen in our hospital present with ER and PgR positive tumors. The triple negative patients tended to be younger, premenopausal, and were associated with higher tumor grades, negative lymph nodes status and lower frequency of ductal carcinoma in situ.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2010

Purpose: We performed an immunohistochemical study with pre-treatment biopsy specimens to evaluate the prognostic significance of four biomolecular markers which can be used as a predictive assay for radiotherapy (RT) treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials and Methods: From January 1998 through December 2006, 68 patients were histologically diagnosed as non-metastatic NPC and treated by RT. Only 38 patients had the paraffin block for the immunohistochemical study. Thirty-one patients had undifferentiated carcinoma and 7 patients had squamous cell carcinoma. Thirtytwo patients (84%) had advanced stage NPC (2002 AJCC Stage III~IV). Immunohistochemical staining was performed for Met, COX-2, nm23-H1, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression using routine methods. Results: The median follow-up time was 30 months (range, 11 to 83 months) for all patients, and 39 months (range, 19 to 83 months) for surviving patients. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of the patients with high Met extent (${\geq}50%$) was significantly lower than that of the patients with low Met extent (48% vs. 84%, p=0.02). In addition, Met extent was also a significant prognostic factor in multivariate analysis (p=0.01). No correlation was observed between Met extent and T stage, N stage, stage group, gender, age, and the response to chemotherapy or RT. Met extent showed moderate correlation with COX-2 expression (Pearson coefficient 0.496, p<0.01), but COX-2 expression did not affect OS. Neither nm23-H1 or EGFR expression was a prognostic factor for OS in this study. Conclusion: High Met extent (${\geq}50%$) might be an independent prognostic factor that predicts poor OS in NPC treated with RT.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.6-16
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• 2013

Recent estimates for colon cancer incidence in Korea have been increased and continue to rank as the second most common in male and the third in female. Although colonoscopy has been known as the best screening tool for colon cancer, 20-25% of patients with colon cancer was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. During the past 10 years, intensive clinical studies helped to establish the value of palliative treatment for colon cancer with metastasis. The introduction of new chemotherapeutic agents such as irinotecan and oxaliplatin has led to a significant increase in tumor response and median survival. In advanced colon cancer, impressive prolongation or overall survival can be achieved through sequential application of combined systemic chemotherapy. In addition, targeted manipulation of molecular tumor mechanisms with new substances such as monoclonal antibodies against the epidermal growth factor receptor or vascular endothelial growth factor shows promising effects. Progress in the systemic treatment of colon cancer is evident, not only because of the significant increase in life expectancy in advanced colon cancer.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.148-156
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• 2021

Single-chain antibodies against epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) are potentially promising agents for developing antibody-based cancer treatment strategies. We described in our previous study the successful expression of an anti-EGFRvIII scFv antibody in Escherichia coli. However, we could also observe the formation of insoluble aggregates in the periplasmic space, limiting the production yield of the active product. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms by which growth conditions could affect the expression of the soluble anti-EGFRvIII scFv antibody in small-scale E. coli NiCo21(DE3) cultures, attempting to maximize production. The secreted scFv molecules were purified using Ni-NTA magnetic beads and protein characterization was performed using SDS-PAGE and western blot analyses. We used the ImageJ software for protein quantification and determined the antigen-binding activity of the scFv antibody against the EGFRvIII protein. Our results showed that the highest percentage of soluble scFv expression could be achieved under culture conditions that combined low IPTG concentration (0.1 mM), low growth temperature (18℃), and large culture dish surface area. We found moderate-yield soluble scFv production in the culture medium after lactose-mediated induction, which was also beneficial for downstream protein processing. These findings were confirmed by conducting western blot analysis, indicating that the soluble, approximately 30-kDa scFv molecule was localized in the periplasm and the extracellular space. Moreover, the antigen-binding assay confirmed the scFv affinity against the EGFRvIII antigen. In conclusion, our study reveals that low-speed protein expression is preferable to obtain more soluble anti-EGFRvIII scFv protein in an E. coli expression system.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.661-673
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• 2023

Treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has always been challenged by the development of resistance. We investigated the antiproliferative activity of licochalcone H (LCH), a regioisomer of licochalcone C derived from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata, in oxaliplatin (Ox)-sensitive and -resistant CRC cells. LCH significantly inhibited cell viability and colony growth in both Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells. We found that LCH decreased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and AKT kinase activities and related activating signaling proteins including pEGFR and pAKT. A computational docking model indicated that LCH may interact with EGFR, AKT1, and AKT2 at the ATP-binding sites. LCH induced ROS generation and increased the expression of the ER stress markers. LCH treatment of CRC cells induced depolarization of MMP. Multi-caspase activity was induced by LCH treatment and confirmed by Z-VAD-FMK treatment. LCH increased the number of sub-G1 cells and arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase. Taken together LCH inhibits the growth of Ox-sensitive and Ox-resistant CRC cells by targeting EGFR and AKT, and inducing ROS generation and ER stress-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, LCH could be a potential therapeutic agent for improving not only Ox-sensitive but also Ox-resistant CRC treatment.