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Published on: November 21, 2011
Selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in blood of children with cancer
W Wasowicz1, J Gromadzińska, M Skłodowska
1Zakład Biochemii, Instytutu Nauk Podstawowych Wojskowej Akademii Medycznej, Gdansk, Poland.
Insights
Children with cancer show lower selenium levels and glutathione peroxidase activity. These deficiencies were more pronounced in later disease stages for older children, indicating a potential link between selenium status and cancer progression.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Oncology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Selenium is an essential trace element crucial for antioxidant defense.
- Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is a key selenoenzyme involved in protecting cells from oxidative damage.
- Oxidative stress is implicated in cancer development and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in children with cancer.
- To compare these levels with a healthy control group.
- To explore potential correlations with cancer stage and age.
Main Methods:
- Studied 205 children (6 months to 7 years) with various neoplasms.
- Determined blood selenium concentration using fluorometric methods.
- Measured glutathione peroxidase activity via spectrophotometric assays.
Main Results:
- Children with cancer exhibited significantly lower selenium levels and GPx activity compared to 128 healthy controls.
- In 3-7 year olds, lower selenium and GPx activity correlated with advanced cancer stages (III-V vs. I-II).
- No significant differences were found in selenium or GPx activity between pre-treatment and during cytostatic treatment.
Conclusions:
- Children with cancer, particularly older ones, may have compromised selenium status.
- Reduced GPx activity in these children suggests impaired antioxidant defense.
- Selenium status does not appear to be significantly altered by cytostatic treatment in this cohort.
Abstract:
In this work we studied 205 children with cancer, aged 6 months to 7 years, who had been diagnosed as suffering from various types of neoplasm. In blood of these children we determined the selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity by fluorometric and spectrophometric methods, respectively. The control group consisted of 128 healthy children. In all groups of children with cancer we observed a significantly lower selenium concentration and lowered glutathione peroxidase activity. We found statistical differences in selenium concentration between first or second and third, and between first and fourth or fifth stages of the disease, only in 3-7 year-old patients. Glutathione peroxidase activity was statistically depressed in the same age group between the first or second and third stages of the disease. Generally, there were no differences in the concentration of the microelement or in the glutathione peroxidase activity between children before and during treatment with cytostatics.
