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New concepts in selenium chemoprevention
Clement Ip1, Yan Dong, Howard E Ganther
1Department of Experimental Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA clement.ip@roswellpark.org
Cancer Metastasis Reviews
|January 29, 2003
Summary
Selenium compounds like methylselenocysteine (MSC) show promise in cancer chemoprevention by inhibiting tumor cell growth and promoting cell death. Research indicates selenium intervenes early in carcinogenesis, offering a potential strategy for cancer prevention.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Selenium's role in cancer chemoprevention is increasingly recognized.
- Monomethylated selenium metabolites are crucial for cancer prevention.
- Methylselenocysteine (MSC) is a key precursor for endogenous methylselenol generation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in selenium cancer chemoprevention.
- To investigate the mechanisms by which selenium compounds inhibit carcinogenesis.
- To explore the effects of MSC on premalignant lesions and cellular responses.
Main Methods:
- Studies utilizing rat mammary carcinogenesis models.
- In vitro experiments with human premalignant breast cells.
- cDNA microarray analysis to identify molecular targets.
Main Results:
- Methylselenocysteine (MSC) blocks clonal expansion of premalignant mammary lesions in rats.
- MSC decreases cell proliferation and enhances apoptosis in transformed cells.
- Selenium affects multiple molecular targets, influencing cell cycle progression and cell death.
Conclusions:
- Selenium, particularly through MSC, intervenes early in the carcinogenesis process.
- MSC demonstrates efficacy in both in vivo and in vitro models of cancer.
- Understanding selenium's molecular targets may reveal new chemopreventive strategies.