[Anticarcinogenic and antitumor properties of selenium-containing phenol derivatives]

Certain derivatives of phenolselenonic acid, namely ammonium, calcium, potassium, and sodium 3-acetoxy-4-methoxybenzolselenonates as well as the corresponding derivatives of 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzolselenonic acid were studied. These compounds were tested for anticarcinogenic activity against urethane-induced pulmonary adenomas and for antitumoral activity against some transplanted tumours such as leukemia L 1210, mammary adenocarcinoma Ca 755 and Walker carcinosarcoma 256. These compounds were found to produce more intensive anticarcinogenic action than antitumoral one. The results showed that ammonium 3-acetoxy-4-methoxybenzolselenonate given before the injection of urethane or together with urethane exert a significant influence on adenomas, while calcium 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzolselenonate inhibited the formation of adenomas at various stages of their development.