Positive Health Online

Abstract

VADGAMA and colleagues, Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059, USA, javadgam@cdrew.edu investigated the anti-neoplastic effects of selenium (alone or in combination with a standard anti-cancer drug, either doxorubicin or paclitaxel) on several tumour cell lines in vitro .

Background

Methodology

The effects of selenium alone or in combination with doxorubicin (Adriamycin) or paclitaxel (Taxol) were examined in the following tumour cell lines: breast (MCF-7, MCF-10, SKBR-3 and BCAP37); lung (RH2); prostate (LNCap and PC-3); colon (T84 and Caco-2); small intestine (HCF8); and liver (HepG2). Effects on the following were measured: apoptosis (programmed cell death; measured by DNA fragmentation); DNA synthesis; growth rate by MTT assay; uptake of amino acid MeAIB by System A; and morphological changes.

Results

Selenium alone resulted in increased apoptosis, morphological changes (increases in 'rounded' cells and membrane 'blebbing'), decreased MeAIB uptake and decreased DNA synthesis in breast (MCF-7 and SKBR-3), lung, small intestine, Caco-2 colon and liver tumour cells lines, The effects were dose dependent and maximal between 4 and 40 ng/ml selenium after 72 hours of treatment. Addition of Adriamycin or Taxol to selenium caused further inhibition of these same cell lines except for Caco-2 colon cells. Selenium alone had no significant effects on prostate (LNCap and PC-3) or T-84 colon tumour cell lines; however, addition of Adriamycin or Taxol to selenium caused a small but significant inhibition of LNCap and PC-3 prostate tumour cells.

Conclusion

Selenium has significant anti-neoplastic effects in vitro on breast, lung, liver and small intestine tumour cells . Selenium enhances the in vitro anti-neoplastic effects of the standard chemotherapeutic agents Adriamycin and Taxol . The findings lend further support to clinical trial effects.

References

Vadgama JV et al. Effect of selenium in combination with Adriamycin or Taxol on several different cancer cells. Anticancer Research 20 (3A): 1391-414. May-Jun 2000.

Comment

The above studies demonstrate the significant and powerful role that various antioxidants – vitamins and minerals – play in the modulation and regulation of a number of cancers. It is these studies which need to be cited whenever it is repeated in the media that there is no research data regarding nutritional substances in the treatment of cancer.