Dose-response relationship study of selenium nanoparticles as an immunostimulatory agent in cancer-bearing mice

Oral administration of selenium nanoparticles has an immunomodulatory effect on individuals with cancer. In the present study we aimed to compare the cancer preventive effect via administration of different doses of selenium nanoparticles in mice with cancer.

Forty 6- to 8-week-old inbred female BALB/c mice were used and divided into four test and control groups; each group contained ten mice. Group 1 (administered PBS) was used as the control and the test groups 2, 3, and 4 were daily administered 50, 100, and 200 μg of selenium nanoparticles, respectively, for 60 days. After 60 days, tumor induction was carried out and 10 days later serum samples were collected to measure the cytokines. Tumor growth and life span of the mice were also monitored during the study.

The results showed a significant increase in serum IFN-γ and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 in all administered doses compared to control. In addition, in mice that received higher doses of selenium nanoparticles (200 μg/day), lower tumor volume and extended life span were observed compared to control. Administration of selenium nanoparticles in normal mice without tumor challenge caused a nonsignificant increase in cytokine production, indicating that selenium supplementation has no effect on the immune response in the absence of tumor challenge.

The 200-μg dose of selenium nanoparticles can induce more efficient responses against breast tumors.