• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2002

Whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 18-F deoxyglucose (FDG) is a molecular imaging modality that detects metabolic alteration in tumor cells. In various human cancers, FDG-PET shows a potential clinical benefit in screening, tumor characterization, staging, therapeutic follow-up and detecting recurrence. In gynecologic cancers, FDG-PET is also known to be effective in characterization of adnexal masses, detection of recurrence, and lymph node invasion. This review discusses the clinical feasibility and future clinical application of this imaging modality in patients with cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and other gynecologic cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2453-2458
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• 2015

Background: X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) associated factor 1 (XAF1) exhibits aberrantly low or absent expression in various human malignancies, closely associated with anti-apoptosis and overgrowth of cancer cells. However, limited attention has been directed towards the contribution of XAF1 to invasion, apoptosis, and cisplatin (DDP)-resistance of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells. This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of XAF1 on invasion, cell cycle, apoptosis, and cisplatin-resistance by overexpressing XAF1 in SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells. Methods and Results: The pEGFP-C1-XAF1 plasmid was transfected into SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells, and the expression of XAF1 at both mRNA and protein levels was analyzed by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting. Overexpression of XAF1 suppressed XIAP expression in both SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells. Transwell invasion assays demonstrated that XAF1 exerted a strong anti-invasive effect in XAF1-overexpressing cells. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis revealed that XAF1 overexpression arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, and cell apoptosis analysis showed that overexpression of XAF1 enhanced apoptosis of SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells apparently by activating caspase-9 and caspase-3. Furthermore, MTT assay confirmed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect of cisplatin in the tested tumor cells, and overexpression of XAF1 increased the sensitivity of SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells to cisplatin-mediated antiproliferative effects. Conclusions: In summary, our data indicated that overexpression of XAF1 could suppress XIAP expression, inhibit invasion, arrest cell cycle, promote apoptosis, and confer cisplatin-sensitivity in SKOV-3 and SKOV-3/DDP cells. Therefore, XAF1 may be further assessed as a potential target for the treatment of both cisplatin-resistant and non-resistant EOCs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.711-715
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• 2002

Telomerase adds telomeric repeats to chromosomal ends and is known to play an important role in carcinogenesis through cellular immortalization. Since telomerase is an essential pathogenomic factor in malignant tumors, inhibiting telomerase activity is thought to be possible to make telomerase positive tumors more sensitive to cisplatin treatment, which is effective in ovarian cancers, but clinical success Is limited by chemo-resistance. In the present study, cisplatin-sensitive ovarian cancer cell line A2780 and cisplatin-resistant A2780/cp70 cell line were infected with antisense telomerase adenovirus Ad-OA. It was found that the Ad-OA suppressed ovarian cancer cell growth and this effect was mainly due to the induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis. Next, we infected the cisplatin resistant ovarian cancer cell line A2780/ cp70 with Ad-OA and cisplatin concurrently. Interestingly, cisplatin treatment with Ad-Oh was more effective to cisplatin-induced cell death in A2780/cp70 cells compared to cisplatin or the vector group only. These data suggest that cisplatin treatment with Ad-OA may be a new chemo-sensitizer for cisplatin resistant ovarian cancer.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.439-445
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• 2009

Cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) catalyzes the conversion of androgens to estrogens and plays an important role in reproduction and development in vertebrates. We investigated the expression patterns of ovarian P450arom (P450aromA) and brain P450arom (P450aromB) mRNA during sex change in black porgy. Maturity was divided into seven stages from male to female (immature testis, mature testis, testicular portion of mostly testis, ovarian portion of mostly testis, testicular portion of mostly ovary, ovarian portion of mostly ovary, and mature ovary). P450aromA expression was significantly higher in the ovarian portion of mostly-ovarian stage fish, and P450aromB expression was highest in the brain of black porgy with mostly-ovarian gonads. Histology showed that testicular tissues were disintegrated with the development of ovarian tissue associated with an increase in the expression of the two P450arom mRNAs during sex change. Interestingly, among various tissues, P450aromA was only expressed in the ovary, and P450aromB was only expressed in the brain. To understand the role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and estradiol ($E_2$), we injected exogenous hormone (GnRH analogue [GnRHa] and $E_2$) into immature black porgy. In the GnRHa group, expression of the two P450arom genes decreased 12 h after injection, and expression of the two P450arom genes were significantly higher at 6 dafter $E_2$ injection. These results provide useful baseline knowledge on the mechanism of natural sex change in black porgy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5697-5701
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• 2015

Background: Medicinal plants, especially examples rich in polyphenolic compounds, have been suggested to be chemopreventive on account of antioxidative properties. Punica granatum (PG) (pomegranate) is a well known fruit in this context, but its cytotoxicity in cancer cells has not been extensively studied. Here, we investigated the antiproliferative properties of a peel extract of PG from Iran in different human cancer cells. Materials and Methods: A methanolic extract of pomegranate peel (PPE) was prepared. Total phenolic content(TPC) and total flavonoid conetnt (TFC) were determined by colorimetric assays. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH radical scavenging activity. The cytotoxicity of different doses of PPE (0, 5, 20, 100, 250, 500, $1000{\mu}g/ml$) was evaluated by MTT assays with A549 (lung non small cell cancer), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer), and PC-3 (prostate adenocarcinoma) cells. Results: Significant (P<0.01) or very significant (P<0.0001) differences were observed in comparison with negative controls at all tested doses (5-$1000{\mu}g/ml$). In all studied cancer cells, PPE reduced the cell viability to values below 40%, even at the lowest doses. In all cases, IC50 was determined at doses below $5{\mu}g/ml$. In this regard, MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells were the most responsive cells to antiprolifreative effects of PPE with a maximum mean growth inhibition of 81.0% vs. 69.4%, 79.3% and 77.5% in SKOV3, PC-3 and A549 cells, respectively. Conclusions: Low doses of PPE exert potent anti-proliferative effects in different human cancer cells and it seems that MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells are the most cells and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells the least responsive in this regard. However, the mechanisms of action need to be addressed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.298-305
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• 2015

Stem cell-like tumor cells are reported to be the main reason for tumor recurrence and metastasis. As one of the new approaches to overcome cancer, studies are emerging to inhibit the expressions of stem cell transcriptional factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf-4, and Lin28) in cancer cells. MicroRNAs are master genetic regulators that can control development and differentiation of stem cells. In this study using various ovarian tumors (Skov3, Ovcar3, Tov112D, Tov21G, PA-1 and Hsc832(c)T), we examined the expressions of stem cell-related transcription factors, and the biological changes in cell survival and growth by miR-126 that targets stem cell transcriptional factors. We observed that treatment of miR-126 induced the morphological changes and cell suspension in most cells. In addition, miR-126 induced gradual regression of cell division except Skov3 cells, especially significant time-dependent reduction in Tov112D, Tov21G and PA-1. When we examined the expression of stem cell transcriptional factors, Sox2 was shown to be down-regulated after miR-126. Our results demonstrate that miR-126 treatment can provide the reversible environment to regulate cell division and to induce cell death of ovarian tumors, suggesting the molecular biological clues for clinical usage.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 2021

The incidence of infertility among individuals of reproductive age has been growing due to genetic and environmental factors, and considerable research efforts are focused on solving this issue. Ovarian development is an overly complex process in the body, involving the interaction between primordial germ cells and gonad somatic cells. However, follicles located in the center of the in vitro ovary are poorly formed owing to ovarian complexity, nutrient deficiency, and signaling deficiency. In the present study, we optimized methods for dissociating gonads and culture conditions for the in vitro generation of miniaturized ovaries. The gonads from embryos were dissociated into cell masses and cultured on a Transwell-COL membrane for 3-5 weeks. Approximately 12 follicles were present per in vitro ovary. We observed that miniaturized ovaries successfully matured to MII oocytes in vitro from 150 to 100 ㎛ gonad masses. This method will be useful for investigating follicle development and oocyte production.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.228-232
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• 2006

The Drosophila protein, Rbp9, is homologous to human Hu, which is reported to be involved in small cell lung cancer. Rbp9 functions in cystocyte differentiation, and mutations in Rbp9 cause ovarian tumors. Here we show that the antimicrobial peptide, Attacin, is upregulated in Rbp9 mutants, especially in ovaries where tumors form. Upregulation seems to result from activation of the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway since we detected nuclear localization of Relish in Rbp9 mutant ovaries but not in wild type ovaries. Inactivation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the Rbp9 mutant allows prolonged survival of malformed egg chambers. We conclude that Drosophila initiates an anti-tumor defense response via activation of NF-${\kappa}B$.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2017

Granulosa cells, which surround the oocyte within the ovarian follicle, play an essential role in creating conditions required for the development of oocytes and follicles. The solute carrier family (SLC) is comprised of influx transporters of steroidal hormones, various drugs, and several other substrates. The differential expression of selected DEGs was confirmed using in situ hybridization analysis. SLC23A3 and SLC39A10 were highly expressed in the ovary. The SLC39A10 gene was expressed in the primordial follicle stage, but SLC23A3 was expressed in the growing follicle stage. Contrastingly, the expression of SLC23A3 was increased in granulosa cells at the growing follicle stage. The differential expressions of SLC23A3 and SLC39A10 between the primordial and primary follicles were additionally confirmed by using follicle isolations. The gene expression profile from the present study may provide insight for future studies on the mechanism(s) involved in primordial-primary follicular transition and suggestions to promote follicular development in ovarian dysfunction.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6435-6439
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• 2012

Chemoresistance to cancer therapy is a major obstacle to the effective treatment of human cancers with cisplatin (DDP), but the mechanisms of cisplatin-resistance are not clear. In this study, we established a cisplatin-resistant human ovarian cancer cell line (COC1/DDP) and identified differentially expressed proteins related to cisplatin resistance. The proteomic expression profiles in COC1 before and after DDP treatment were examined using 2-dimensional electrophoresis technology. Differentially expressed proteins were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem MS (NanoUPLC-ESI-MS/MS). 5 protein spots, for cytokeratin 9, keratin 1, deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase), aarF domain containing kinase 4 (ADCK 4) and cofilin1, were identified to be significantly changed in COC1/DDP compared with its parental cells. The expression of these five proteins was further validated by quantitative PCR and Western blotting, confirming the results of proteomic analysis. Further research on these proteins may help to identify novel resistant biomarkers or reveal the mechanism of cisplatin-resistance in human ovarian cancers.