Emerging Anticancer Potentials of Selenium on Osteosarcoma

Abstract

Selenium is a trace element essential to humans and forms complexes with proteins, which exert physiological functions in the body. In vitro studies suggested that selenium possesses anticancer effects and may be effective against osteosarcoma. This review aims to summarise current evidence on the anticancer activity of inorganic and organic selenium on osteosarcoma. Cellular studies revealed that inorganic and organic selenium shows cytotoxicity, anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on various osteosarcoma cell lines. These actions may be mediated by oxidative stress induced by selenium compounds, leading to the activation of p53, proapoptotic proteins and caspases. Inorganic selenium is selective towards cancer cells, but can cause non-selective cell death at a high dose. This condition challenges the controlled release of selenium from biomaterials. Selenium treatment in animals inoculated with osteosarcoma reduced the tumour size, but did not eliminate the incidence of osteosarcoma. Only one study investigated the relationship between selenium and osteosarcoma in humans, but the results were inconclusive. In summary, although selenium may exert anticancer properties on osteosarcoma in experimental model systems, its effects in humans require further investigation.

Selenium Anticancer Properties and Impact on Cellular Redox Status

“…However, data on the anticancer properties of Se is still contradictory. Different Se species such as inorganic, organic compounds and Se-nanoparticles possess anticancer activity, but it depends on many factors such as chemical form, dose, cancer cell type, bioavailability, stage of disease [46]. Se asserts chemopreventive activity when used at concentrations higher than optimal [29,36].…”

“…These mechanisms include the ability to counteract heavy metals toxicity, maintenance of DNA stability, stimulation of DNA repair, regulation of inflammatory and immune responses, induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, inhibition of local invasion and migration, blocking of angiogenesis, modulation of cell proliferation, and enhancing phase II-carcinogen-detoxifying enzymes [57,67,68]. Different Se compounds were reviewed to induce apoptosis due to different cellular effects and signaling pathways [29,46,64]. It has been noted, that supplementation with organic Se reduced various cancer metastasis in vitro and in vivo [52].…”

In vitro evaluation of bone cements impregnated with selenium nanoparticles stabilized by phosphatidylcholine (PC) for application in bone

“…9 Selenium at high concentration induces production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and causes mitochondrial dysfunction, and then cellular apoptosis. 10,11 This means, selenium possesses a potential anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis of cancer cells. 12 Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge and according to published literature findings, selenium has appeared as a promising attractive antimicrobial agent as well as these unique functional features.…”

Thyroid-Modulating Activities of Olive and Its Polyphenols: A Systematic Review

“…Additionally, all deiodinases are examples of selenoprotein, wherein they require selenium for their catalytic activity [ 60 ]. Selenium is a trace element with essential physiological functions, and defective selenoprotein biosynthesis or nutritional selenium deficiency can lead to reduce deiodinase activity and cause abnormalities in thyroid function [ 60 , 101 , 102 ]. In addition, supplementation with antioxidants like vitamin C [ 103 , 104 ] and soy isoflavones [ 105 , 106 ] but not α-tocopherol [ 107 ] could increase the selenium level, thereby affecting the activity of deiodinases.…”