• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.153-164
• /
• 2023

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of tumor cells characterized by self-renewal and differentiation capacity. CSCs are currently postulated as the driving force that induces intra-tumor heterogeneity leading to tumor initiation, metastasis, and eventually tumor relapse. Notably, CSCs are inherently resistant to environmental stress, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy due to high levels of antioxidant systems and drug efflux transporters. In this context, a therapeutic strategy targeting the CSC-specific pathway holds a promising cure for cancer. NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2; NFE2L2) is a master transcription factor that regulates an array of genes involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species/electrophiles. Accumulating evidence suggests that persistent NRF2 activation, observed in multiple types of cancer, supports tumor growth, aggressive malignancy, and therapy resistance. Herein, we describe the core properties of CSCs, focusing on treatment resistance, and review the evidence that demonstrates the roles of NRF2 signaling in conferring unique properties of CSCs and the associated signaling pathways.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.23-37
• /
• 2001

Objective: The purpose of this study is to develop and activate anti-tumor herbal acupuncture for cancer patients in South Korea. Methods: We investigated some literatures on anti-tumor herbal acupuncture which is used in South Korea and China, and made diagrams. Results: The results are summarized as follows. Anti-tumor herbal acupuncture is one of the traditional oriental medical method which is effective for cancer patients. In domestic studies, most of herb materials are belong to action of cooling&detoxification(25.0%) and strengthening body resistance(46.4%) which are proved to have effects of anti-tumor, immune activation and preventing tumor. In China, point injection therapy are used for improving symptoms of cancer patients and hea1ing tumor. Also herbal intravenous injection is used for combination of chinese traditional and western cancer therapy and treating cancer patients variously. Conclusions: From the above results. it is expected that anti-tumor herbal acupuncture is useful to improve clinical symptoms and quality of life(QOL) of cancer patients. Also we must develop new progressive methods of point injection and herbal intravenous injection for treating cancer patients, and advance clinical studies and trials.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.83-89
• /
• 2008

We have compared the antitumor effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT), using 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) as the photosensitizer, combined with cisplatin (CDDP) on AMC-HN3 human squamous cell carcinoma. AMC-HN3 cells were cultured and then incubated with various concentrations of CDDP and ALA. 632 nm diode laser was given at $6.0J/cm^2$ followed by incubation for 24 hours. The evaluation of cell viability was done by MTT assay. In vivo CDDP was injected intraperitoneally 24 hours prior to PDT. The anti-tumor effects of each treatment were measured by tumor volume change. Cell viability were 44.29% for the cisplatin-mediated chemotherapy group $(6.25{\mu}g/ml)$, 77.22% for ALA-PDT group, and 15.06% for the Combination therapy group. In vivo, the antitumor effect of photodynamic therapy was enhanced by combination of Cisplatin-mediated chemotherapy. Photodynamic therapy combined with administration of Cisplatin appears to enhance antitumor effect and to be a useful treatment modality.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.76 no.6
• /
• pp.261-268
• /
• 2014

Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are increasingly being treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents and are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of latent TB infection (LTBI) is recommended in these patients due to the initiation of anti-TNF therapy. Traditionally, LTBI has been diagnosed on the basis of clinical factors and a tuberculin skin test. Recently, interferon-gamma releasing assays (IGRAs) that can detect TB infection have become available. Considering the high-risk of developing TB in patients on anti-TNF therapy, the use of both a tuberculin skin test and an IGRA should be considered to detect and treat LTBI in patients with IMIDs. The traditional LTBI treatment regimen consisted of isoniazid monotherapy for 9 months. However, shorter regimens such as 4 months of rifampicin or 3 months of isoniazid/rifampicin are increasingly being used to improve treatment completion rates. In this review, the screening methods for diagnosing latent and active TB before anti-TNF therapy in patients with IMIDs will be briefly described, as well as the current LTBI treatment regimens, the recommendations for managing TB that develops during anti-TNF therapy, the necessity of regular monitoring to detect new TB infection, and the re-initiation of anti-TNF therapy in patients who develop TB.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.273-280
• /
• 2007

New treatment approaches are needed to improve the effectiveness of oral cancer treatment, since surgical resection of the tumor in oral region causes various oral dysfunctions. The molecular biology of oral cancer has been progressively delineated. Concurrently, gene therapy techniques have been developed that allow targeting or replacement of dysfunctional genes in cancer cells, offering the potential to treat a wide range of cancer. Oral carcinoma is attractive target for gene therapy because of its accessibility. In this article, we review the current status of gene therapy as applied to oral carcinoma.

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
• /
• 2002.06b
• /
• pp.25-26
• /
• 2002

The goal of radiation therapy is to maximize the tumor dose and to minimize the dose of normal tissue. In order to achieve this goal, the new radiation therapy techniques such as three dimensional conformal therapy or intensity modulated radiation therapy has been developed and tried to clinical application. The relationship between radiation dose and normal tissue response is an interesting subject in the radiation therapy field.(omitted)

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.731-737
• /
• 2000

Objective : Growth factor receptors on the tumor cells are known to be expressed highly allowing the tumor cells to bind growth factors to stimulate cellular division. Immunotoxin therapy is one of the novel approaches to the primary malignant brain tumor, and expression of cell-surface receptor is essential for the immunotoxin to have specific anti-tumor activity. Despite promising cytotoxic activity of immunotoxin, tumor responses are not curative on clinical trials, and additional studies are needed regarding various factors influencing the efficacy of the immunotoxin. The purpose of this study is to detect the expression of various growth factor receptors on brain tumor cell lines which are going to be used in these studies. Materials and Methods : The authors detected transferrin receptor(TR), insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor(IGF-1R), and interleukin-4 receptor(IL-4R) on medulloblastoma cell line(Daoy) and glioblastoma cell lines(U373 MG and T98 G) by flow cytometric analysis. Results : TR was expressed on Daoy, U373 MG, and T98 G. IGF-1R was expressed on Daoy and U373 MG, but not on T98 G. IL-4R was expressed on all cell lines tested. Conclusion : The transferrin and interleukin-4 receptors might be good targets for immunotoxin therapy. The results should be considered in additional in vitro and in vivo studies regarding immunotoxin and in establishing the proper treatment model of the immunotoxin therapy including selection of the adequate immunotoxin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.4915-4918
• /
• 2014

Background and Aims: Advances in the treatment of cervical cancer over the last decade have predominantly involved the development of genes directed at molecular targets. Gene therapy is recognized to be a novel method for the treatment of cervical cancer. Genes can be administered into target cells via nanocarriers. This study aimed to develop systemically administrable nano-vectors. Floate (Fa) containing gene loaded nanoparticles (NPs) could target HeLa human cervical cancer cells through combination with receptors on the cells to increase the nuclear uptake of genetic materials. Methods: Fa was linked onto Poly (ethylene glycol)-b-poly (D, L-lactide) (PEG-PLA) to form Fa-PEG-PLA, and the resulting material was used to load plasmids of enhanced green fluorescence protein (pEGFP) to obtain gene loaded nanoparticles (Fa-NPs/DNA). Physical-chemical characteristics, in vitro release and cytotoxicity of Fa-NPs/DNA were evaluated. The in vitro transfection efficiency of Fa-NPs/DNA was evaluated in HeLa cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). PEG-PLA without Fa was used to load pEGFP from NPs/DNA as a control. Results: Fa-NPs/DNA has a particle size of 183 nm and a gene loading quantity of 92%. After 72h of transfection, Fa-NPs/DNA displayed over 20% higher transfection efficiency than NPs/DNA and 40% higher than naked DNA in HeLa cells. However, in HUVECs, no significant difference appeared between Fa-NPs/DNA and NPs/DNA. Conclusions: Fa-PEG-PLA NPs could function as excellent materials for gene loading. This nano-approach could be used as tumor cell targeted medicine for the treatment of cervical cancer.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.1422-1427
• /
• 1992

Askin tumor is rare malignant small round cell tumor that orgins from interconstal nerve of chest in children It was not until 1979 that Askin first reported that tumor. Although few sporadic reports had been reported, its incidence were too low to analize its clinical featurs. That tumors prognosis is so grave that no therapy would success to cure, but early diagnosis and enbloc excision with following combind chemotherapy and radiotherapy will prolong their survival. Other small round cell tumors of chest wall that must differentiate are Ewing`s sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, lymphoma, neuroblastoma and pulmonary bla-stoma. The most prominant histologic charactersistics of this tumor is neuron specific eno-lase which is detected with immunohistochemistry technique, and neurosecretary electron dense granules within cytoplasm. We expirienced a case of Askin tumor occuring 12-year-old female who has huge right lower chest mass with dull chest pain. She have been underwent excision and postoperative radiotherapy. We are following her up for months and there is no evidence of local recurrence.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.164-168
• /
• 1997

Multiple primary tumors in the head and neck are not uncommon, however those in the thyroid and the larynx are known to be very rare. In most cases of multiple primary tumors involving the thyroid and the larynx, lesions are observed usually simultaneously and thyroid tumors are found incidentally during the laryngeal tumor surgery. In rare cases, thyroid tumors are found metachronously after radiation therapy of laryngeal cancer. The authors recently experienced a case of multiple primary tumor involving the thyroid and the larynx, in which thyroid papillary carcinoma was the index tumor and the laryngeal squamous carcinoma was the meatachronous second tumor. Both tumors showed aggressive local extension and regional nodal meatastasis with tumor collision in the same node. The patient died of recurrent or of residual squamous carcinoma shortly after main surgical treatment index thyroid cancer.