Selenium inhibition of the neoplastic transformation in preneoplastic mammary cell populations

The effect of dietary selenium on the tumor-producing capabilities of primary hyperplastic alveolar nodules (HAN) of the mammary gland of BALB/c mice was examined directly using a transplantation assay. The tumor-producing capabilities of primary HAN exposed to 2.0 ppm dietary selenium was decreased 57% compared to the tumor-producing capabilities of HAN exposed to 0.2 ppm dietary selenium. This degree of inhibition compared well with the 60% inhibition of mammary tumorigenesis when the mice were exposed to supplemental selenium during the entire tumorigenic period. The examination of primary hyperplastic alveolar nodules was a more accurate assessment of the responsiveness of the preneoplastic state than using established nodule outgrowth lines since the latter exhibited a greater degree of variability in response to selenium-mediated inhibition of growth and the mean response of numerous nodule outgrowth lines was not as great as seen in the primary HAN. These results indicate that selenium is an effective inhibitor of the neoplastic transformation in preneoplastic cells as well as the formation of preneoplastic cells.