Grzegorz Sukiennicki

A Low Selenium Level Is Associated with Lung and Laryngeal Cancers

Purpose It has been suggested that selenium deficiency is a risk factor for several cancer types. We conducted a case-control study in Szczecin, a region of northwestern Poland, on 95 cases of lung cancer, 113 cases of laryngeal cancer and corresponding healthy controls. Methods We measured the serum level of selenium and established genotypes for four variants in four selenoprotein genes (GPX1, GPX4, TXNRD2 and SEP15). Selenium levels in the cases were measured after diagnosis but before treatment. We calculated the odds of being diagnosed with lung or laryngeal cancer, conditional on selenium level and genotype. Results Among lung cancer cases, the mean selenium level was 63.2 µg/l, compared to a mean level of 74.6 µg/l for their matched controls (p<0.0001). Among laryngeal cancer cases, the mean selenium level was 64.8 µg/l, compared to a mean level of 77.1 µg/l for their matched controls (p<0.0001). Compared to a serum selenium value below 60 µg/l, a selenium level above 80 µg/l was associated with an odds ratio of 0.10 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.34; p = 0.0002) for lung cancer and 0.23 (95% CI 0. 09 to 0.56; p = 0.001) for laryngeal cancer. In analysis of four selenoprotein genes we found a modest evidence of association of genetic variant in GPX1 with the risk of lung and laryngeal cancers. Conclusion A selenium level below 60 µg/l is associated with a high risk of both lung and laryngeal cancer.

Can selenium levels act as a marker of colorectal cancer risk

BackgroundSelenium has attracted attention because of its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protects cells from damage. Certain breakdown products of selenium are believed to prevent tumor growth by enhancing the immune cell activity and suppressing the development of tumor blood vessels. In this observational study, selenium level was measured in a series of patients from Poland and Estonia to determine a correlation between levels of this microelement and colorectal cancer risk.MethodsA total of 169 colorectal cancer patients and 169 healthy controls were enrolled in the study after obtaining their informed consent. Selenium level in the blood serum was measured using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS). The statistical analysis was performed by Fisher’s exact test.ResultsThe threshold point of selenium level was 55 μg/l and 65 μg/l for Poland and Estonia respectively, for an increase in cancer risk. The lower levels of selenium were associated with greater risk of colorectal cancer.ConclusionsThe result reveals a significant strong association between low selenium level and the colorectal cancer risk in both Estonian and Polish populations.

Arsenic (As) and breast cancer risk

The study was conducted to determine the correlations between serum concentration of arsenic (As) with increased or decreased predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer.

Serum Concentrations of Selenium and Copper in Patients Diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose Understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer (PaCa) is still insufficient. This study evaluated the associations between concentrations of selenium (Se) and copper (Cu) in the serum of PaCa patients. Materials and Methods The study included 100 PaCa patients and 100 control subjects from the same geographical region in Poland. To determine the average concentration of Se, Cu, and ratio Cu:Se in the Polish population, assay for Se and Cu was performed in 480 healthy individuals. Serum levels of Se and Cu were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results In the control group, the average Se level was 76 µg/L and Cu 1,098 µg/L. The average Se level among PaCa patients was 60 µg/L and the mean Cu level was 1,432 µg/L. The threshold point at which any decrease in Se concentration was associated with PaCa was 67.45 µg/L. The threshold point of Cu level above which there was an increase in the prevalence of PaCa was 1,214.58 µg/L. In addition, a positive relationship was observed between increasing survival time and Se plasma level. Conclusion This retrospective study suggests that low levels of Se and high levels of Cu might influence development of PaCa and that higher levels of Se are associated with longer survival in patients with PaCa. The results suggest that determining the level of Se and Cu could be incorporated into a risk stratification scheme for the selection and surveillance control examination to complement existing screening and diagnostic procedures.

Serum selenium levels and the risk of progression of laryngeal cancer

Background Observational studies have reported an inverse relationship between selenium status (blood or toenail) and the risk of laryngeal cancer; however, the impact of low serum selenium level on survival has not been evaluated. Methods We conducted a prospective study of 296 patients diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in Szczecin, Poland. Serum selenium was measured at diagnosis and prior to treatment. Patients were followed from the date of diagnosis to death at five years. Vital status was obtained by linkage to the Polish National Death Registry. Results The five-year survival after diagnosis was 82.0% (95% CI: 68% to 91%) for individuals in the highest quartile of serum selenium (> 66.8 μg/L) and was 28.6% (95% CI 19% to 42%) for individuals in the lowest quartile (<50.0 μg/L). In an age- and sex-adjusted analysis, the hazard ratio (HR) for death from all causes was 7.01 (95% CI 3.81 to 12.9) for patients in the lowest quartile of serum selenium, compared to those in the highest quartile. The corresponding multivariate HR was 3.07 (95% CI 1.59 to 5.94). Conclusions This study suggests that a selenium level in excess of 70 μg/L is associated with improved outcome among patients undergoing treatment for laryngeal cancer. Further studies are needed to evaluate if selenium supplementation to achieve this level might improve overall prognosis.

Selenium as marker for cancer risk and prevention.

MARCIN LENER1*, KATARZYNA JAWORSKA1,3*, MAGDALENA MUSZYnSKA1,2, GRZEGORZ SUKIENNICKI1,2, KATARZYNA DURDA1, SATISH GUPTA1,3, ELŻBIETA ZŁOWOCKA-PERŁOWSKA1, JoZEF KŁADNY4, ANNA WIECHOWSKA-KOZŁOWSKA5, TOMASZ GRODZKI6, EWA JAWOROWSKA7, JAKUB LUBInSKI7, BARBARA GoRECKA-SZYLD8, GRAŻYNA WILK8, MIECZYSŁAW SULIKOWSKI9, TOMASZ HUZARSKI1, TOMASZ BYRSKI1, CEZARY CYBULSKI1, JACEK GRONWALD1, TADEUSZ DeBNIAK1, OLGIERD ASHURYK1, ALEKSANDRA TOŁOCZKO-GRABAREK1, ANNA JAKUBOWSKA1, ANTONI MORAWSKI10, JAN LUBInSKI1,2

Prospective observation of breast/ovarian cancer risk in BRCA1 carriers depending on serum selenium level optimized with diet

The aim of the study is to observe prospectively the possibility of lowering the cancer risk among BRCA1 carriers by optimizing selenium concentration in diet/organism. Results of studies performed in several centres, particularly of our own search, are strongly indicating on potential of decreasing breast/ovarian cancer risk among carriers by optimization of selenium concentration in the body. Studies will be performed on group of 1500 BRCA1 carriers. Cohort will be recruited during the first 6 months of the project. Mean length of follow-up will be 3 yrs. From all females serum will be collected for selenium analyses-at the beginning and, then, every 6 months. Participants will receive the list of products with selenium concentration estimated according to literature data and, additionally, information about e-store (http://www.dietaantyrakowa.pl) specialized in distribution of food products with defined amount of selenium. Information on optimal selenium concentration according to existing data will be provided also. It is expected that among ~750 carriers following recommended diet changes 38 cancers will be diagnosed and among the others ~750-60. The difference between groups will be statistically significant with p=0.0278. If necessary, investigation will be extended.

Selenium and the risk of cancer of the lung and larynx. A case-control study from a region with low selenium

Selenium deficiency has been suggested by several studies to be associated with cancer risk. We conducted a case-control study in Szczecin, a region of northwestern Poland, on 86 cases of lung cancer, 87 cases of laryngeal cancer and an equal number of healthy controls. We studied the serum level of selenium and genotypes for four variants in four selenoprotein genes (GPX1, GPX4, TXNRD2 and SEP15) and the odds of being diagnosed with lung or laryngeal cancer. Among lung cancer cases, the mean selenium level was 63.2 µg/l, compared to a mean level of 74.7 µg/l for their matched controls (p 80 µg/l) was associated with an odds ratio of 0.10 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.34; p = 0.0002) for lung cancer and 0.24 (95% CI 0.10 to 0.59; p = 0.002) for laryngeal cancer. In four selenoproteins studied here we found a modest associations of genetic variants in GPX1 and GPX4 with lung and TXNRD2 with laryngeal cancer risk. In this region of endemic low selenium level, there is a strong inverse association between the level of serum selenium and the risks of lung and laryngeal cancer.

Serum folate concentration and the incidence of lung cancer

Background Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Folate helps to maintain DNA integrity and to regulate gene expression. Serum folate levels may affect the risk of several cancers, including lung cancer. In this study we evaluated the association between serum folate concentration and variations in genes involved in folate metabolism with lung cancer incidence in Poland. Methods The study included 366 lung cancer patients and 366 control subjects. We measured serum folate concentration and genotyped six variants in MTHFR, MTR and MTRR genes. The odds ratios of being diagnosed with lung cancer were calculated using conditional univariable and multivariable logistic regression with respect to folate level and genotypes. Results The mean serum folate level was lower in lung cancer cases than in control group (20.07 nmol/l vs. 22.52 nmol/l, p = 0.002). The odds ratio for lung cancer declined with increasing serum content of the folate. The folate concentration of >25.71 nmol/l (IVth quartile) in comparison to <15.92 nmol/l (Ist quartile) was associated with an odds ratio of 0.61 (95%CI 0.40–0.95, p = 0.03). The analysis of variations in MTHFR, MTR and MTRR genes did not reveal any significant difference between lung cancer cases and controls in univariable and multivariable analyses. Conclusion In this case-control study, lower serum folate concentrations were associated with a higher risk of lung cancer diagnosis. Although previous findings have been somewhat mixed, our results add to the evidence that circulating folate levels may be an indicator of lung cancer risk.

Serum 25(OH)D concentration, common variants of the VDR gene and lung cancer occurrence

The first aim of our study was to examine the association between common variants in VDR [rs2228570 (FokI), rs1544410 (BsmI), rs7975232 (ApaI), rs731236 (TaqI) and rs11568820 (Cdx2)] and lung cancer risk in the Polish population. Genotyping and statistical analysis which included Chi‐square test with Yates correction and haplotype frequency analysis were performed on a series of 840 consecutively collected lung cancer patients and 920 healthy controls. The second aim was to evaluate the link between serum 25(OH)D concentration and the number of lung cancers in a subgroup of 200 patients. A separate control group that consisted of 400 matched (by age, sex, smoking habits and the season of blood collection) healthy individuals was used to avoid posterior adjustment on the matched variables. Statistical analysis with the use of Chi‐square test with Yates was performed. We found no statistically significant difference in the distribution of the allels of studied VDR variants among cases and controls. A statistically significant over‐representation of VDR haplotypes: rs731236_A + rs1544410_T [odds ratio (OR) = 2.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11–5.32, p < 0.001], rs731236_G + rs1544410_T (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.31–1.81, p < 0.001) and rs731236_G + rs1544410_C (OR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.03–0.07, p < 0.001) was detected. We found a tendency toward an increased number of lung cancers among individuals with low serum levels of 25(OH)D. To answer the question, whether VDR can be regarded as lung cancer susceptibility gene and low 25(OH)D serum levels is associated with lung cancer occurrences, additional, multicenter study needs to be performed.