Ⅰ、大腸直腸癌類癌幹細胞因子之探討
大腸癌 (colorectal cancer, CRC) 又稱為大腸直腸癌或結腸直腸癌，由於其預後效果並不理想，即便經過治療，仍常發生轉移及復發的情形。「癌幹細胞 (cancer stem cells, CSCs)」為腫瘤細胞中極少部分類似幹細胞特性的細胞。然而這些細胞與腫瘤的發生、轉移、抗藥性以及復發擁有密切的關係。目前常用於辨識癌幹細胞的生物標記，如：CD133、CD44等，但這些生物標記仍備受爭議。本研究中我們利用腫瘤病人的新鮮檢體培養得來之貼盤細胞與懸浮細胞球(tumorsphere) 進行微陣列分析 (microarray assay)，實驗結果發現SCNN1B基因的表現量在類癌幹細胞中有較一般癌細胞多的趨勢；且在大腸癌細胞株的繼代培養中亦觀察到相同的現象。因此，我們期望透過研究SCNN1B對大腸癌幹細胞 (colorectal cancer stem cells, CRCSCs) 的影響，藉以找出大腸癌治療標靶的新穎生物標記。

Ⅱ、建立藥物吸收之活細胞即時影像觀測系統
一直以來，在臨床上給予藥物最常用的方式是口服給藥，因為口服給藥是最為經濟且安全的，並被認為是病患對於藥物吸收最理想的方式，口服給藥的方式藥物會通過腸道吸收以及血管運送進入人體循環，上皮細胞對於藥物的吸收程度以及藥物對於內皮細胞的穿透能力，被認為是對於藥效影響的指標。目前在臨床研究上有許多方法可以用來偵測藥物在體內以及體外的吸收程度，但這些方法大部分是建立在間接的化學分析或者物理波長的吸光度測定上，因此本研究透過建立一個活細胞即時影像系統，觀察藥物吸收以及藥物進入細胞的過程。利用計算藥物螢光的強度，我們可以偵測藥物或生物活性配方的吸收效率，而我們也成功的在加藥半小時內觀察到薑黃素在Caco-2細胞的吸收情形。此外，我們也觀察到經過高速均質後的薑黃素乳化劑吸收的效率比單純脂質包裹的薑黃素來得高。

Ⅰ、The role of SCNN1B in stemloid of colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as colon cancer, is the third most common cancer in Taiwan. Its prognosis is poor because of high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are few percentages of cells in a tumor which have characteristic of stem cell. These cells are related to tumor initiation, metastasis, drug resistance, and relapse. Some biomarkers of CSCs have been found, such as CD133 and CD44. However, these biomarkers are still controversial. To identify more representative genes in regulation of colorectal cancer stem cells (CRCSCs), we performed microarray analysis and identify SCNN1B that expresses higher in tumor spheres than in adherent cancer cells derived from patients’ fresh specimens . We also observed the same phenomenon in CRC cell lines, HCT116 and DLD-1, and the tumorspheres derived from these cells for three passages. By studying the effects of SCNN1B on CRCSCs, we may identify a biomarker that serves as a new target in cancer therapy.

Ⅱ、Establishment of Cellular Live-Imaging Model for drug Absorption
Oral administration is the most common method in taking clinical medicine. It is also the safest, most convenient, and economical way. By oral administration, drug is absorbed by digestive system and enter circulatory system. In the study of drug absorption, it is important to evaluate the relationship of these oral drug formulations and the efficiency of absorption. The level of drug absorption in the epithelial cells and the ability of penetration through the endothelial cell are two important factors that determine the final effects of a drug. Until now, there are many methods to evaluate the drug absorption levels in vitro and in vivo. However, majority of these assays were established on indirect chemical analysis assays or physical wavelength absorbance assay. Therefore, we established a cellular live-imaging model to observe the process of drug absorption and penetration in live cells using real-time microscopy. By measuring the intensity of bio-fluorescence of the drug or a labeled micelle, we can determine the efficiency of the cellular absorption of a specific drug or a formula. Here we successfully observed the curcumin absorption by colon cancer cells Caco-2 in half hour after treatment. Furthermore, the curcumin with high-speed homogenized-emulsion showed the better cellular absorption compared to the lipid-wrapped one.

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