Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Exploring the Pharmacological Action and Molecular Mechanism of Salidroside in Inhibiting MCF-7 Cell Proliferation and Migration
11:13

Exploring the Pharmacological Action and Molecular Mechanism of Salidroside in Inhibiting MCF-7 Cell Proliferation and Migration

Published on: June 9, 2023

ERα signaling imparts chemotherapeutic selectivity to selenium nanoparticles in breast cancer

Kiritkumar K Vekariya1, Jasmine Kaur, Kulbhushan Tikoo

  • 1Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Nagar, Punjab, India.

Nanomedicine : Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine
|December 27, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Stable selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) show anticancer activity against breast cancer. Their effectiveness correlates with estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) levels, being more potent in ERα-positive cells and reducing tumor volume in vivo.

Area of Science:

  • Nanotechnology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are synthesized for their potential anticancer properties.
  • Previous research suggests SeNPs may inhibit cancer cell proliferation.
  • The specific mechanism of SeNPs in breast cancer, particularly concerning estrogen receptor status, requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize stable selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs).
  • To investigate the mechanism of action of SeNPs in preventing mammary tumor growth.
  • To determine the correlation between SeNP anticancer activity and estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) levels in breast cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • SeNPs synthesized using selenious acid, reduced glutathione, and sodium alginate.
  • In vitro assessment of cell viability and apoptotic markers (pp38, Bax, cytochrome c) in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.
  • In vivo evaluation of tumor volume reduction in a rat model of chemically induced mammary tumors.

Main Results:

  • Synthesized SeNPs were stable (40-90 nm, stable for 3 months).
  • SeNP treatment significantly increased apoptosis markers and reduced viability in ERα-positive MCF-7 cells, but not in ERα-negative MDA-MB-231 cells.
  • In vivo studies showed a significant decrease in tumor volume correlated with lower ERα levels.

Conclusions:

  • SeNP anticancer activity is linked to ERα expression in breast cancer.
  • SeNPs demonstrate potential as a therapeutic agent for ERα-positive breast cancers.
  • This study provides novel insights into the in vivo and in vitro correlation between SeNP efficacy and ERα levels.

More Related Videos

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer10:36

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer

Published on: March 17, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...