이전 연구들에서 rutin과 quercetin을 포함한 여러 flavonoids의 암예방 활성이 보고되었으나, rutin의 경우 섭취 시 체내에서 HVA, HPAA, DHT라는 대사체로 변형되어 흡수된다. 그러나, 이들 대사체와 관련한 암예방 효능 및 그 분자생물학적 작용기작에 대한 연구 결과는 보고된 바가 없어, 본 연구에서 이를 규명하였다. DHT는 EGF로 유도된 세포 변형을 억제하였으며, AP-1 전사인자의 활성 또한 억제하였다. DHT는 Raf-1 효소 활성을 효과적으로 저해하므로서 MEK 및 ERK의 인산화를 억제하였으며, Raf-1과 ATP는 비경쟁적으로 직접 결합하여 Raf-1 효소 활성을 저해한다는 사실을 밝혀내었다. 이와는 대조적으로, rutin은 EGF로 유도된 세포 변형, AP-1 활성, ERK 신호전달체계, Raf-1 효소 활성을 억제하지 못하였다. 이상의 연구결과는 DHT의 암예방 활성이 발암과정과 밀접한 연관이 있는 Raf-1 효소 활성을 억제하여 세포 변형을 억제하는 것과 관련되어 있다는 것을 제시한다.

Tumor cells under hypoxic conditions are often found due to the rapid outgrowth of their vascular supply, and,in order to survive hypoxia, these cells induce numerous signaling factors. Erk is an important kinase in cell survival, and its activity is regulated by Raf kinases through numerous growth factor receptors. The authors investigated Erk activation and Raf/Erk signaling using the hypoxia-mimetic agent, cobalt chloride (CoCl2), in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. CoCl2 increases Erk phosphorylation in both a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, blocking the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) using PD168393 abolished Erk activation in response to CoCl2, suggesting that Erk phosphorylation by CoCl2 is dependent on EGFR.

It is well known that the imbalance between epithelial cell growth and inhibitor factors may cause human epithelial cancer. Over-expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) has been implicated in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma. ZD1839 inhibits selectively the EGFR tyrosine kinase activity and is clinically used for cancer patients. However the mechanisms by which it exerts its anti-tumor activity remains unclear. This study attempted to determine the mechanisms underlying the effects of ZD1839 on the cellular level and to characterize the effects of ZD1839 with regard to human oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) cell growth. The YD-10B and YD-38 cell lines established from OSCC in the department of Oral Pathology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry and ZD1839(Iressa) were used for this study. The inhibition of cell proliferation induced by ZD1839 was reversible and the lowest dose of ZD1839 that produced statistically significant growth inhibition in YD cell lines were 0.1 μM. The delay in cell cycle progression was induced by 0.1 μM of ZD1839 treatment after 24 hr. This reduction in cell proliferation and cell cycle delay were associated with up-regulation of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor(CDKI), P21CIP1/WAF1 and P27KIP1. Reduced expression of cyclin D1 was also observed after treatment with ZD 1839 to YD-38 cells but not to YD-38. The present results suggest that the antiproliferative effects of ZD1839, in vitro was associated with degradation of cyclin D1, which may be used as a possible indicator of a high cell sensitivity to ZD1839.