Selenium Influences Trace Elements Homeostasis, Cancer Biomarkers in Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Administered with Cancerocidal Radiotherapy

Abstract

In the perspective of selenium as an antioxidant and anti-carcinogen, so far no strong intervention trials with<br />selenium over radiation-treated oral squamous cell carcinoma cases have been conducted, to examine the response of<br />the disease and the subsequent biochemical alterations. In the present study, untreated oral cancer cases (Gp II) were<br />compared with radiation-treated groups with and without selenium (Gp IIa, IIb), forward to find the trace elements<br />and cancer biomarkers status, at a follow-up of 6 months. Severe alteration in the trace elements levels of Se, Cu,<br />Fe, Zn, Na, K, Ca, Cl, were noticed in Gp II. Though Gp IIa showed slight improvement, administration of selenium<br />(Gp IIb) improved the level of all these elements to a greater extent (p<0.001). GpII and IIa showed increased level of<br />bio markers 5'-nucleotidase, PschE, LAP, γ-GTP, LDH, SGOT, SGPT, ACP, ALP, CPK, TNF, CEA, AFP, Scc-Ag.<br />The greater extent of restitution to near normalcy was observed in patients given selenium (Gp IIb) (p<0.001). Owing to<br />the fact that selenium scavengers oxidants and hence decelerate carcinogenesis by eliminating tumors, so the tumor<br />released constituents into the systemic circulation declined significantly. Therefore, the outcome of the study suggests<br />selenium as a valuable therapeutic measure as adjuvant for oral cancer patients undergoing cancerocidal radiotherapy.