Molecular mechanisms by which selenoproteins affect cancer risk and progression

Selenoproteins comprise a unique class of proteins that contain selenium in the form of selenocysteine. Several selenoproteins have been implicated in the risk or development of cancers in humans by genetic data. These include Selenoprotein P, 3 members of the glutathione peroxidase family of anti-oxidant enzymes and Sep15. At-risk alleles in the germline indicate a likely role in determining susceptibility to cancer, while loss of heterozygosity or chromosomal epigenetic silencing indicate that the reduction in the levels of the corresponding proteins contribute to malignant progression. Lower levels of these proteins are likely to be detrimental due to the resulting cellular stress and perturbations in important regulatory signaling pathways. The genetic data indicating the involvement of these selenoproteins in cancer etiology are discussed, as are the possible mechanisms by which these genes might promote carcinogenesis.