Selenium Levels during the Course of Radiotherapy

Fraunholz, Ingeborg; Eberlein, Klaus; Schopohl, B.; Böttcher, H. D.; Rödel, Claus

doi:10.1007/s00066-008-1867-6

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…There is also an ongoing debate whether low serum selenium levels after radiation therapy are indeed the result of radiation injury or if they are a consequence of prior chemotherapy, pre-existing nutritional deficiencies, or the presence of a tumor (18–20). Our study clearly shows that TBI (in the absence of a tumor, pre-existing nutritional deficiencies, or prior chemotherapy) is sufficient to cause a long-lasting reduction of serum selenium levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Selenium for the Mitigation of Radiation Injury: Effects of Selenium Dose Escalation and Timing of Supplementation

Sieber

Muir²,

Cohen

et al. 2011

Radiation Research

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We recently reported that daily dietary supplementation with 100 μg selenium (a dose exceeding a rat’s nutritional requirement by about 33-fold) initiated immediately after total-body irradiation (TBI) and maintained for 21 weeks mitigates radiation nephropathy in a rat model as indicated by blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels and histopathological criteria (Radiat Res. 2009; 17:368–73). In this follow-up study, we explored the risks and benefits of delaying the onset of supplementation, shortening periods of supplementation, and escalating selenium supplementation beyond 100 μg/day. Supplementation with 200 μg selenium/day (as selenite or seleno-L-methionine) substantially improved the mitigation of radiation nephropathy by lowering BUN levels at 4 months after TBI from 115 to as low as 34 mg/dl and by proportionally lowering the incidence of histopathological abnormalities. Shortening the period of supplementation to 3 or 2 months did not compromise efficacy. Delaying the onset of supplementation for 1 week reduced but did not abrogate the mitigation of radiation nephropathy. Supplementation with 300 μg/day mitigated radiation nephropathy less effectively than 200 μg and was poorly tolerated. Rats that had been given 10 Gy of TBI were less tolerant of high-dose selenium than nonirradiated rats. This reduced tolerance of high-dose selenium would need to be taken into consideration when selenium is used for the mitigation of radiation injury in victims of nuclear accidents or acts of radiological terrorism. The high dose requirements, the pronounced threshold effect, and the superior performance of selenite suggest that the mitigation of radiation nephropathy involves mechanisms that go beyond the induction of selenoproteins.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dietary Selenium for the Mitigation of Radiation Injury: Effects of Selenium Dose Escalation and Timing of Supplementation

Sieber

Muir²,

Cohen

et al. 2011

Radiation Research

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“…Some studies have reported that RT is able to change the status of the antioxidant/oxidant system, [23][24][25][26][27] while other reports have pointed out this treatment does not have big effects on the antioxidant/oxidant system. 23,28,29 Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the exact effects of RT on the oxidant/antioxidant status, the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and selenium (Se) in a group of women with breast cancer. To this end, we followed all the patients before and after RT to determine the effects of this type of treatment on aforementioned variables.…”

Section: Aimmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pre and post radiotherapy serum oxidant/antioxidant status in breast cancer patients: Impact of age, BMI and clinical stage of the disease

Arjmandi

Moslemi

Zarrini

et al. 2016

Reports of Practical Oncology & Radiotherapy

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“…Selenium deficiency is nearly the norm in cancer patients [ 38 , 39 ]. Radio- and chemotherapy as well as the suboptimal nutrition of cancer patients in the clinics might aggravate the situation in a selenium deficient patient even further, and increase the likelihood of radiation-induced side effects during and after therapy [ 34 , 35 , 39 ].…”

Section: Clinical Studies On Seleniummentioning

confidence: 99%

Selenium in Oncology: From Chemistry to Clinics

et al. 2009

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The essential trace element selenium, which is a crucial cofactor in the most important endogenous antioxidative systems of the human body, is attracting more and more the attention of both laypersons and expert groups. The interest of oncologists mainly focuses in the following clinical aspects: radioprotection of normal tissues, radiosensitizing in malignant tumors, antiedematous effect, prognostic impact of selenium, and effects in primary and secondary cancer prevention. Selenium is a constituent of the small group of selenocysteine-containing selenoproteins and elicits important structural and enzymatic functions. Selenium deficiency has been linked to increased infection risk and adverse mood states. It has been shown to possess cancer-preventive and cytoprotective activities in both animal models and humans. It is well established that Se has a key role in redox regulation and antioxidant function, and hence in membrane integrity, energy metabolism and protection against DNA damage. Recent clinical trials have shown the importance of selenium in clinical oncology. Our own clinical study involving 48 patients suggest that selenium has a positive effect on radiation-associated secondary lymphedema in patients with limb edemas, as well as in the head and neck region, including endolaryngeal edema. Another randomized phase III study of our group was performed to examine the cytoprotective properties of selenium in radiation oncology. The aim was to evaluate whether sodium selenite is able to compensate a preexisting selenium deficiency and to prevent radiation induced diarrhea in adjuvant radiotherapy for pelvic gynecologic malignancies. Through this study, the significant benefits of sodium selenite supplementation with regards to selenium deficiency and radiotherapy induced diarrhea in patients with cervical and uterine cancer has been shown for the first time in a prospective randomized trial. Survival data imply that supplementation with selenium does not interfere with the positive biological effects of radiation treatment and might constitute a valuable adjuvant therapy option especially in marginally supplied individuals. More recently there were emerging concerns coming up from two large clinical prevention trials (NPC, SELECT), that selenium increases the possible risk of developing diabetes type II. Despite obvious flaws of both studies and good counterarguments, a controversial debate remains on the possible advantage and risks of selenium in cancer prevention. However, in the light of the recent clinical trials the potential benefits of selenium supplementation in tumor patients are undeniable, even if further research is needed.

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Selenium Levels during the Course of Radiotherapy

Abstract: A preexisting selenium deficiency could be diagnosed in the broad majority of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. In contrast to the widely held opinion, it was not further aggravated by standard radiotherapy protocols.

Cited by 10 publications

References 30 publications

Dietary Selenium for the Mitigation of Radiation Injury: Effects of Selenium Dose Escalation and Timing of Supplementation

Dietary Selenium for the Mitigation of Radiation Injury: Effects of Selenium Dose Escalation and Timing of Supplementation

Pre and post radiotherapy serum oxidant/antioxidant status in breast cancer patients: Impact of age, BMI and clinical stage of the disease

Selenium in Oncology: From Chemistry to Clinics

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