Yongju Kwon

Breast cancer accounts for 25% of all types of cancer in women, and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) comprises around 15~20% of breast cancers. Conventional chemotherapy and radiation are the primary systemic therapeutic strategies; no other FDA-approved targeted therapies are yet available as for TNBC. TNBC is generally characterized by a poor prognosis and high rates of proliferation and metastases. Due to these aggressive features and lack of targeted therapies, numerous attempts have bee

A series of novel terpyridine-skeleton molecules containing conformational rigidity, 14 containing benzo[4,5]furo[3,2-b]pyridine core and 15 comprising chromeno[4,3-b]pyridine core, were synthesized, and their biological activities were evaluated. 3-(4-Phenylbenzo[4,5]furo[3,2-b]pyridin-2-yl)phenol (8) was determined to be a nonintercalative topo I and II dual catalytic inhibitor and 3-(4-phenylchromeno[4,3-b]pyridine-2-yl)phenol (22) was determined to be a nonintercalative topo IIα specific cat

Mucositis is a major side effect induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Although mucositis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients, management is largely limited to controlling symptoms, and few therapeutic agents are available for treatment. Since mucositis could be inhibited by the modulation of radiotherapy- or chemotherapy-induced pathways independently of cancer treatment, there is an opportunity for the development of more targeted therapies and interventions. T

Liver fibrosis is a life-threatening and irreversible disease. The fibrosis process is largely driven by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which undergo transdifferentiation from an inactivated state to an activated one during persistent liver damage. This activated state is responsible for collagen deposition in liver tissue and is accompanied by increased CD44 expression on the surfaces of HSCs and amplified intracellular oxidative stress, which contributes to the fibrosis process. To address thi

Regulation of gene expression by transcription factors touches many aspects of eukaryotic biology, and its systematic, external control by organic molecules represents a challenge in chemistry. Here we report the design of a completely organic, nonpeptidic compound that mimics a transcription factor. The design takes advantage of the specific DNA-binding affinity of a hairpin polyamide molecule and the ability of wrenchnolol to bind to the Sur-2 subunit of human mediator complex. The hybrid comp

Omega-3 fatty acid consumption has been suggested to be beneficial for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Its effects have been attributed to anti-inflammatory activity, with the inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism playing a central role. However, a more recent view is that omega-3 fatty acids play an active role as the precursors of potent, specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), such as resolvins, protectins, and maresins. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)- and eicosapentaen

CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells play crucial roles in the host response to tumors. Increasing evidence supports the existence of elevated numbers of Treg cells in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. In this study, the effects of methyl gallate on Treg cells were examined. Methyl gallate inhibited Treg cell-suppressive effects on effector CD4(+) T cells and Treg migration toward tumor environment. The expression of Treg surface markers including CTLA-4, CCR4, CXCR4, and glucocortic