Selen in der OnkologieAktueller Stand der Forschung und Praxis

Abstract: Selenium is interesting for fundamental researchers as well as for clinicians. New findings in molecular genetics more and more contribute to the understanding of the modes of action of this essential trace element in prevention and therapy.For decades animal studies have proven the chemopreventive effect of the essential trace element. Supplementation studies in man also show, that incidence and mortality of certain forms of cancer can be reduced by a sufficient supply of selenium. Nevertheless, the mechanisms for this preventive effect have been hardly known. The discovery of new, specific selenium proteins, whose distribution and function in the body as well as new pieces of evidence for a correlation with carcinogenic changes allow a closer look at the manifold range of action of this essential trace element.In addition, there are more and more data, that selenium especially in the form of sodium selenite - plays an important role also in the supportive tumor therapy. As a supportive measure for the standard therapy, the side effects of the chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be reduced, which is shown for example in a support of the immune system. A synergistic effect between sodium selenite and certain cytostatic agents has been proven, as well.The latest research results as well as the resulting therapeutic consequences were topics of the 4t' selenium symposium in Dresden, which took place at the 15t' and 1 6th of May 1999 in the Chambers of Physicians of Saxony.

Keyword(s): Chemotherapie

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