• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2013

Objective: Standard cancer therapy prolongs survival, but can be detrimental to the quality of life, compromise the immune system, and leave residual disease that can cause recurrence years or decades in the future. Tumor dormancy therapy is a novel therapeutic approach that may improve these shortcomings, promote quality of life, and prolong survival. The aim of this study was to analyze studies on dormancy therapy, especially studies using traditional Oriental herbal medicine, so as to evaluate the efficacy of dormancy therapy with traditional oriental herbal medicine. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review using Scientific and Technical Information Integration Services (NDSL), PubMed, and RISS. We searched for clinical reports, papers, and books related to tumor metastasis, recurrence, immunotherapy, tumor dormancy, and traditional oriental herbal medicine with anticancer effects. Seventy-nine (79) experimental and clinical articles in both Korean and English were reviewed. This study was conducted from March 1, 2012 to May 31, 2012. Results: This approach, Tumor dormancy therapy, rather than seeking to remove the tumor, includes combination of low-dose chemotherapy, immunotherapy, immunosurveillance, and other methods to stabilize tumor growth and to enhance the host is immunity against disseminated tumor cells and thus to manage cancer as a chronic disease while maintaining quality of life. In particular, integrative use of Oriental herbal medicine has been shown to induce or maintain tumor dormancy, increase the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy, improve quality of life, and prolong survival. Conclusion: Tumor dormancy therapy is a promising novel therapeutic approach that may be especially effective with Oriental herbal medicine. Further research is needed to determine its potential mechanisms and therapeutic applications.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.482-487
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• 2023

Hematopoiesis is regulated by crosstalk between long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) and supporting niche cells in the bone marrow (BM). Here, we describe the role of KAI1, which is mainly expressed on LT-HSCs and rarely on other hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells (HSPCs), in niche-mediated LT-HSC maintenance. KAI1 activates TGF-β1/Smad3 signal in LT-HSCs, leading to the induction of CDK inhibitors and inhibition of the cell cycle. The KAI1-binding partner DARC is expressed on macrophages and stabilizes KAI1 on LT-HSCs, promoting their quiescence. Conversely, when DARC+ BM macrophages were absent, the level of surface KAI1 on LT-HSCs decreases, leading to cell-cycle entry, proliferation, and differentiation. Thus, KAI1 acts as a functional surface marker of LT-HSCs that regulates dormancy through interaction with DARC-expressing macrophages in the BM stem cell niche. Recently, we showed very special and rare macrophages expressing α-SMA+ COX2+ & DARC+ induce not only dormancy of LT-HSC through interaction of KAI1-DARC but also protect HSCs by down-regulating ROS through COX2 signaling. In the near future, the strategy to combine KAI1-positive LT-HSCs and α-SMA/Cox2/DARC triple-positive macrophages will improve the efficacy of stem cell transplantation after the ablative chemo-therapy for hematological disorders including leukemia.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.89-103
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• 2010

Background: The greatest threats to the lives of cancer patients consist of both complications due to metastasis and the recurrence of original cancer. However, the existing forms of chemotherapy do not prevent these adverse events adequately because they suppress the patients' immune systems. A new methodology is required. Aim: To provide further validation for cancer immunotherapy (involving the use of traditional oriental herbal medicine). Method: Related articles, in both Korean and English were reviewed. Results: Cancer immunotherapy involving the use of traditional oriental herbal medicine can create inhospitable conditions for cancer cells and strengthen patients' immunological functioning. These effects are a demonstration of the principles of "strengthening healthy qi (扶正)" and "eliminating pathogens (祛邪)". As a result, immunotherapy protects against metastasis and original cancer recurrence by preventing the growth of cancer cells. This is very similar to the concept of a cancer dormancy therapy. Conclusion: It is strongly urged by the authors that more advanced studies be carried out on this promising therapy in the future in order to improve patients' quality of life and increase their survival time.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.70-88
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• 2019

Objective: This study investigated the trends in pancreatic cancer research on Korean medicine in order to establish a direction for further study. Methods: Pancreatic cancer research on Korean medicine was reviewed using databases such as OASIS, KoreanTK, KISS, RISS, KISTI, and NDSL. The search terms were "pancreatic cancer" "Korean medicine," and "herbal medicine." There was no restriction on publication dates, and the reviewed studies were analyzed according to the type of research. Results: Nineteen studies were reviewed. The numbers and types of research were as follows: 9 clinical studies including case reports, 2 review studies, and 8 in vitro studies; there was no in vivo study. Among the clinical research were 3 descriptive studies and 6 case reports. The baseline characteristics and quality of life of pancreatic cancer patients were analyzed in the descriptive studies. In the case reports, interventions such as herbal medicine, pharmacopuncture, and acupuncture were used. Research articles on the review of pancreatic cancer were titled "Preliminary Study for Development of Korean Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline for Pancreatic Cancer" and "Systemic Review on the Tumor Dormancy Therapy." Cell lines such as PANC-1, MIA PaCa-2, and AsPC-1 were used for in vitro studies. These studies have reported decreased cell viability, induced apoptosis, and changes in cancer-related gene expression. Conclusion: Through this review, we found that using Korean medicine for treating pancreatic cancer is applicable. However, due to overall limited the number of study, the benefit of Korean medicine for pancreatic cancer may be substantiated to a limited degree. Better methodological quality and large controlled trials are expected to further quantify the therapeutic effect of Korean medicine.