Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi
Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe.
Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2025 Jun 6;87(9):5569-5577. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000003464. eCollection 2025 Sep.
Selenium, an essential trace element, has garnered significant attention for its multifaceted role in cancer biology, particularly in breast cancer. As a component of selenoproteins, selenium contributes to antioxidant defense, immune modulation, and apoptosis regulation, making it a promising candidate for cancer prevention and therapy. Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that selenium supplementation may reduce oxidative stress, enhance immune surveillance, and suppress tumor initiation in breast cancer. These protective effects underscore selenium's potential as an ally in combating breast cancer. However, the role of selenium is far from straightforward, as excessive selenium intake or specific genetic contexts can lead to pro-oxidant effects, promoting DNA damage, inflammation, and tumor progression. Moreover, selenium has been implicated in chemoresistance, potentially hindering the efficacy of standard breast cancer treatments. This dual nature, often referred to as the "selenium paradox," complicates its therapeutic application. The variability in selenium's impact, influenced by genetic polymorphisms, baseline selenium status, and the tumor microenvironment, underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of its role in breast cancer.
硒作为一种必需的微量元素，因其在癌症生物学，尤其是乳腺癌中的多方面作用而备受关注。作为硒蛋白的组成部分，硒有助于抗氧化防御、免疫调节和细胞凋亡调控，使其成为癌症预防和治疗的一个有前景的候选元素。流行病学和实验研究表明，补充硒可能会降低氧化应激、增强免疫监视并抑制乳腺癌的肿瘤起始。这些保护作用凸显了硒作为对抗乳腺癌的盟友的潜力。然而，硒的作用远非如此简单，因为过量摄入硒或特定的基因背景会导致促氧化作用，促进DNA损伤、炎症和肿瘤进展。此外，硒与化疗耐药性有关，可能会阻碍标准乳腺癌治疗的疗效。这种双重性质，通常被称为“硒悖论”，使其治疗应用变得复杂。受基因多态性、基线硒状态和肿瘤微环境影响，硒作用的变异性凸显了对其在乳腺癌中作用进行细致入微理解的必要性。
