Polyphenols inhibit indoleamine 3,5-dioxygenase-1 enzymatic activity--a role of immunomodulation in chemoprevention.

Metastasis is one of the cancer hallmarks described by Hanahan and Weinberg. Emerging evidence shows that it requires interplays between cancer cells and micro-environmental biofactors. Indoleamine 3,5-dioxygenase-1 (IDO-1) produced by cancer, local lymph nodes, and satellite cells have been demonstrated as one of the biofactors.

Advances in the treatment of ovarian cancer: a potential role of antiinflammatory phytochemicals.

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of death among gynecological malignancies worldwide. The five-year survival rates for stage IIIC and IV patients are 29% and 13%, respectively. Type-2 EOC cells have been found to be associated with this late stage disease.

PC-SPES: Molecular mechanism to induce apoptosis and down-regulate expression of PSA in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells.

PC-SPES is an eight-herbal mixture which has activity against prostate cancer cells and can reduce the serum level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in more than 80% of individuals with prostate cancer. We conducted this study to begin to clarify the molecular mechanism by which PC-SPES inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells and down-regulated expression of PSA. Western blot analysis, luciferase reporter assay using a variety of promoters of the PSA gene and the isolated androgen receptor response elements (ARE), as well as electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) were employed to study the effect of PC-SPES on DHT-induced expression of PSA in LNCaP androgen-dependent human prostate cancer cells.

Oridonin induces growth inhibition and apoptosis of a variety of human cancer cells.

PC-SPES is an eight herbal mixture that was shown to have activity against prostate cancer. Recently, we purified oridonin from Rabdosia rubescens, one component of PC-SPES, by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ability of oridonin to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells was examined by MTT assay.