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Selenium cytotoxicity in cancer
Marita Wallenberg1, Sougat Misra, Mikael Björnstedt
1Division of Pathology F46, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.
Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
|February 18, 2014
Summary
Selenium compounds show promise in cancer treatment by selectively killing malignant cells. These redox-active compounds offer a multi-target approach, potentially overcoming drug resistance in tumors.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Selenium is an essential trace element with demonstrated anti-cancer properties.
- Selenium compounds inhibit malignant cell growth through various mechanisms, though not fully elucidated.
- Tumor-selective cytotoxicity of selenium compounds highlights their therapeutic potential in oncology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the tumor-specific cytotoxic effects of selenium compounds.
- To emphasize the cellular events induced by pharmacologically active selenium compounds.
- To discuss the potential of selenium in treating resistant cancers.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research on selenium compounds and cancer.
- Focus on redox-active selenium compounds and their mechanisms.
- Analysis of cellular signaling pathways and drug resistance.
Main Results:
- Selenium compounds, particularly redox-active ones, exhibit significant tumor-selective cytotoxicity.
- These compounds induce complex pro-death signaling cascades in cancer cells.
- They target molecules crucial for cancer cell survival and drug resistance.
Conclusions:
- Redox-active selenium compounds offer a multi-target therapeutic strategy against cancer.
- Selenium's unique mechanisms can overcome resistance developed against targeted therapies.
- Pharmacological applications of selenium show great potential for treating resistant cancers.
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