Inhibitory effect of therapeutic genes, cytosine deaminase and interferon‑β, delivered by genetically engineered stem cells against renal cell carcinoma.

Although the effects of stem cells expressing anticancer genes on tumor growth have been demonstrated by many researchers in various types of cancer, relatively few studies have investigated their inhibitory effects on cancer metastasis. In the present study, we examined the inhibitory effects of cytosine deaminase (CD)/5‑fluorocytosine (5‑FC) and interferon‑β (IFN‑β) using genetically engineered neural stem cells (hNSCs) in a cellular and metastasis model of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The CD/5‑FC method has the advantage of minimizing damage to normal tissues since it selectively targets cancer cells by the CD gene, which converts prodrug 5‑FC to the drug 5‑fluorouracil.

A promising therapeutic strategy for metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease: Engineered anticancer gene-expressing stem cells to selectively target choriocarcinoma.

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is an unusual disease occurring in pregnancy that originates from abnormal trophoblastic cells and comprises a group of diseases with different properties of invasion, metastasis and recurrence. The GTD group includes hydatidiform moles and gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTNs), with GTNs being divided into invasive moles, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumors and epithelioid trophoblastic tumors. The present review focuses on current effective treatments for GTD, including conventional and novel promising direct enzyme prodrug therapies (DEPTs).

Phytochemical-induced reactive oxygen species and endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis and differentiation in malignant melanoma cells.

Background: Phytochemicals are derived from plants, vegetables and daily products and exert chemopreventive effects. Malignant melanoma is highly metastatic, and melanoma patients can develop chemotherapeutic resistance against conventional melanoma therapies.

Methods: In the present study, we investigated the anti-cancer effect of the phytochemicals kaempferol (Kaem), genistein (Gen), and 3'3-diindolylmethane (DIM) on melanoma cell viability.

Cancer-Specific Inhibitory Effects of Genetically Engineered Stem Cells Expressing Cytosine Deaminase and Interferon-β Against Choriocarcinoma in Xenografted Metastatic Mouse Models.

Cancer treatments using stem cells expressing therapeutic genes have been identified for various types of cancers. In this study, we investigated inhibitory effects of HB1.F3.

Overexpression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases/C-4 decarboxylases causes growth defects possibly due to abnormal auxin transport in Arabidopsis.

Sterols play crucial roles as membrane components and precursors of steroid hormones (e.g., brassinosteroids, BR).