• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.473-481
• /
• 2020

Axl receptor tyrosine kinase has been implicated in cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis in various cancer types. Axl overexpression has been observed in many cancers, and selective inhibitors of Axl, including R428, may be promising therapeutic agents for several human cancers, such as breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Here, we examined the cell growth inhibition mediated by R428 and auranofin individually as well as in combination in the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 to identify new advanced combination treatments for human breast cancer. Our data showed that combination therapy with R428 and auranofin markedly inhibited cancer cell proliferation. Isobologram analyses of these cells indicated a clear synergism between R428 and auranofin with a combination index value of 0.73. The combination treatment promoted apoptosis as indicated by caspase 3 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Cancer cell migration was also significantly inhibited by this combination treatment. Moreover, we found that combination therapy significantly increased the expression level of Bax, a mitochondrial proapoptotic factor, but decreased that of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Furthermore, the suppression of cell viability and induction of Bax expression by the combination treatment were recovered by treatment with N-acetylcysteine. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that combined treatment with R428 and auranofin synergistically induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells and may thus serve as a novel and valuable approach for cancer therapy.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.207-214
• /
• 2013

Purpose : To evaluate the MRI findings of breast cancer with BRCA mutation. Materials and Methods: We collected information of the breast cancer patients who underwent the test for BRCA gene mutation as well as preoperative breast MRI from January 2007 to December 2010. A total of 185 patients were enrolled; 33 of these patients had BRCA mutations and 152 patients did not. Among them, a total of 231 breast cancers were detected. Images of the 47 breast cancers with BRCA mutation and of the 184 breast cancers without mutations were evaluated to compare the morphologic and enhancement features on MRI. Results: With MR imaging, there were no significant difference in morphologic characteristic between two groups. However, enhancement pattern in the group with BRCA mutation were more likely to have persistent enhancement (p < 0.233), and LN metastasis was more common in breast cancers without BRCA mutation. Breast cancers with BRCA 2 mutation tend to show more persistent enhancement pattern than BRCA 1 mutation. Conclusion: In breast cancer patients with BRCA mutation, MRI didn't show significant difference in morphologic characteristics, however breast cancers with BRCA gene mutation carriers tend to have benign morphologic features on MRI, such as Type 1 kinetic curve enhancement.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.134-137
• /
• 1996

Monoclonal antibody(TCM-9) against human thyroid cancers have been studied by screening with human thyroid cancers, normal and benign thyroid tissue, and normal human serum protein. A monoclonal antibody(TCM-9) that is known to have strong specificity for human thyroid cancer but not for Graves' disease, adenoma or normal thyroid does not bind to native or mature human thyroglobulin(Tg). We used to TCM-9 antibody by immunohistochemical staining on 5 follicular cancer, 2 follicular adenoma, 1 follicular neoplasm with suspicious invasion, 2 papillary cancer to ascertain being of help in differentiation between follicular carcinoma and adenoma. Reactivity of TCM-9 was observed in follicular carcinoma and papillary carcinoma but not observed in follicular adenoma. Thus TCM-9 is a novel monoclonal antibody against the thyroid cancer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.878-895
• /
• 2017

Phosphorylation, a critical mechanism in biological systems, is estimated to be indispensable for about 30% of key biological activities, such as cell cycle progression, migration, and division. It is synergistically balanced by kinases and phosphatases, and any deviation from this balance leads to disease conditions. Pathway or biological activity-based abnormalities in phosphorylation and the type of involved phosphatase influence the outcome, and cause diverse diseases ranging from diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and numerous cancers. Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are of prime importance in the process of dephosphorylation and catalyze several biological functions. Abnormal PTP activities are reported to result in several human diseases. Consequently, there is an increased demand for potential PTP inhibitory small molecules. Several strategies in structure-based drug designing techniques for potential inhibitory small molecules of PTPs have been explored along with traditional drug designing methods in order to overcome the hurdles in PTP inhibitor discovery. In this review, we discuss druggable PTPs and structure-based virtual screening efforts for successful PTP inhibitor design.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.88-93
• /
• 1998

In order to review the clinicopathologic characteristics of the thyroid cancer associated with benign thyroid disease, we evaluated 47 patients treated between January, 1993 and September, 1997 at the Chonnam National University Hospital. In those period, we had operated a total of 690 thyroidectomy of which 320 were diagnosed as thyroid cancer. Forty three(91.4%)occurred in women and four(8.5%)occurred in men. The mean age at operation was 46.7years(range, 15 to 76 years). Forty three of the 47 cancers(91.4%) were papillary carcinomas while 4(8.5%)were follicular. Twenty four of the 47 patients (51%) were occult thyroid carcinomas measured less than 1 cm in diameter. The concurrent benign disease were nodular goiter(n=17), Hashimoto's thyroiditis(n=16), follicular adenoma(n=10), Graves' disease(n=2) and diffuse hyperplasia(n=2). Thirty one patients were diagnosed by preoperative FNAC and they underwent total thyroidectomy. Three were diagnosed by frozen section examination at the time of operation. Among them, one underwent total thyroidectomy and two underwent subtotal thyroidectomy. Eight cases revealed lymph node metastases and 2 cases extended to surrounding muscles. In conclusion, concurrent thyroid cancers and benign thyroid disease are not uncommon and a regular ultrasonic follow-up with selective aspiration cytologic examination is recommaned to enhance their diagnostic accuracy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.24
• /
• pp.10585-10589
• /
• 2015

Breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1), mapped on chromosome 17q21, is implicated in the mechanisms of cellular DNA repair. Inactivation of this gene is involved in the development of many human cancers, including breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation and expression in breast cancer cases. Sixty-one breast cancers were examined for BRCA1 hypermethylation by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and 45 paired normal breast tissues were analyzed for altered BRCA1 mRNA levels by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Aberrant methylation status in BRCA1 was detected in 15 of 61 cases (24.6%), while reduced expression was found in 7 of 45 (15.6%). BRCA1 hypermethylation was statistically associated with tumor grade III (p=0.04), a high frequency of stage IIB (p=0.02), and triple-negative phenotype (OR= 3.64, 95%CI =1.1-12.3, p=0.03). Our findings indicated that BRCA1 promoter hypermethylation is a useful prognostic marker for breast cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.10-20
• /
• 2013

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent non-skin related cancers. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among males in most Western countries. If prostate cancer is diagnosed in its early stages, there is a higher probability that it will be completely cured. Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) is a non-specific phosphomonoesterase synthesized in prostate epithelial cells and its level proportionally increases with prostate cancer progression. PAP was the biochemical diagnostic mainstay for prostate cancer until the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) which improved the detection of early-stage prostate cancer and largely displaced PAP. Recently, however, there is a renewed interest in PAP because of its usefulness in prognosticating intermediate to high-risk prostate cancers and its success in the immunotherapy of prostate cancer. Although PAP is believed to be a key regulator of prostate cell growth, its exact role in normal prostate as well as detailed molecular mechanism of PAP regulation is still unclear. Here, many different aspects of PAP in prostate cancer are revisited and its emerging roles in other environment are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.163-167
• /
• 2009

Sinonasal malignant tumors comprise less than 1% of all cancers and 3% of all malignant tumors of the head and neck, which explains a lack of large series addressing the clinical characteristics and management of these tumors. Neck node metastasis occurs in only about 7% to 15% of malignant tumors compared with other head and neck cancers. A 90-yr-old woman presented with left palpable neck mass and right nasal mass occupying nasal cavity. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of left neck mass results in metastatic squamous cell carcinoma(SCC). PET/CT shows intense FDG uptake in right nasal cavity with bone invasion. Histopathologic examination of excised lesion in the right nasal cavity revealed SCC. We report here on a primary sinonasal SCC with contralateral lymph node metastasis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.81-97
• /
• 2007

Punica granatum, L. (Pomegranate) has 613 seeds which accidentally corresponds to the 613 commandments in the Bible. Accordingly, the fruit has been worshipped by the Jewish and other religious people from the ancient. Pomegranate's seed, peel and juice contain a variety of ethnomedical components so much as the sum of three kinds of other common fruits. The number of published papers related to the pomegranate in recent 7 years flourished 7 times more than before at the bases of Medline record. Since the containments of estrogen, as $17{\alpha}-estradiol,\;17{\beta}-estradiol$, estrone, and estradiol, etc., in pomegranate have been reported, public interests and commercial values of pomegranate arose considerably. The report was disproved later, however, merits of this fruit remained yet; clinical efficacy for preventing and remediating cancers including breast and prostate cancers by oral administration of the juice, seed oil, and peel extract is still believed to be true. In this review, target components of pomegranate such as antioxidants, anticancers, antiestrogens and ethnomedical components were analyzed and discussed along with examining its pharmaceutical efficacy and prescription to postmenopausal lesion, cardiosclerosis, cosmetic beautification, viral and allergic symptoms, and diabetes mellitus, etc.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.6
• /
• pp.684-689
• /
• 2006

Uterine cervical cancer is the $5^{th}$ most common malignancy in Korean women. With the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, earlier stage cancers are being diagnosed with longer survival rates being anticipated. Accordingly, recurrent cancers are being encountered more often in clinical practice. Most recurrent uterine cervical cancer patients, have intra-pelvic lesions and adjacent lymph node involvement, while a distant metastasis alone is extremely rare. A mediastinal recurrence of uterine cervical cancer is not common with most manifesting as small lymph node enlargements. We report a case of a 46-year-old woman with recurrent uterine cervical cancer presenting only as a huge mediastinal mass without a local recurrence.