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Review
. 2023 Sep 5;16(9):1250.
doi: 10.3390/ph16091250.

Selenium in Prostate Cancer: Prevention, Progression, and Treatment

Jinjiang Jiang  1   2 , Bo Chen  1   2 , Bo Tang  1   2 , Qiang Wei  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Selenium in Prostate Cancer: Prevention, Progression, and Treatment

Jinjiang Jiang et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). .

Abstract

Selenium, a trace mineral with various biological functions, has become a focal point in prostate cancer research. This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of selenium's involvement in prostate cancer, covering its impact on prevention, development, treatment, and underlying mechanisms. Observational studies have revealed a link between selenium levels and selenoproteins with prostate cancer progression. However, randomized controlled studies have shown that selenium supplementation does not prevent prostate cancer (HR: 0.95; 95% CI 0.80-1.13). This discrepancy might be attributed to selenoprotein single nucleotide polymorphisms. In the context of combinatorial therapy, selenium has demonstrated promising synergistic potential in the treatment of prostate cancer. Emerging evidence highlights the significant role of selenium and selenoproteins in prostate cancer, encompassing AR signaling, antioxidative properties, cell death, cell cycle regulation, angiogenesis, epigenetic regulation, immunoregulation, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, and redox signal. In conclusion, selenium's diverse properties make it a promising trace mineral in prostate cancer prevention, development, and treatment and as a platform for exploring novel agents.

Keywords: chemoprevention; progression; prostate cancer; selenium; selenoprotein; therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

All the authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of selenium’s biological process in the human body.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot showing selenium chemoprevention’s property with or without vitamin E in the general population and population with high risk of prostate cancer. Oxidants (with and without selenium) by smoking and health status and all-cause mortality.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic representation of selenium’s roles in the development and progression of prostate cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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