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Selenium (Se) and the risk of breast, ovarian and prostate cancers
Hereditary Cancer in Clinical Practice volume 10, Article number: A8 (2012)
Aim of the study
The aim of the study was determination of serum Se concentration and identification of genetic variations in genes related to metabolism of selenium as markers of cancer risks for carriers of BRCA1 gene mutation and individuals with susceptibility to other common unselected cancers (breast, ovarian, prostate).
Material and methods
Eight genotypes of 4 most common SNPs localised in GPX1, GPX4, TXNRD2 and SEP15 were selected. Genotyping was performed in 93 affected and 186 unaffected matched BRCA1 carriers as well as on pairs matched 1:1 consisting of 108 breast, 50 ovarian and 105 prostate consecutive cancer patients and healthy controls.
The following techniques for laboratory analyses have been applied: a) sequencing on ABI310, b) SimpleProbe or TaqMan analysis (a melting-curve genotyping with fluorescence-labeled probes based on the LightCycler 480 System (Roche Applied Science), c) determination of selenium concentration in plasma using atomic absorption spectrometer AAnalyst600 (Perkin Elmer).
Results
In none of studied groups statistically significant differences on cancer risk could be found when serum selenium concentration was assessed as a single factor. However, when selenium level data were combined with some selenoprotein genotypes some strong associations with cancer risk have been identified.
BRCA1
The strongest association was found for carriers of SEP15 nGG genotype (Tab.1). Additionally, significantly lower risk of cancers were found for GPX1 CC (for Se level >80µg/l, ~ 6 times) and GPX4 CC (for Se level >100µg/l, ~10 times).
Unselected breast cancers
The strongest association was found for carriers of SEP15 nGG genotype (Tab.1).
Significantly lower risk of cancer was found also for TXNRD2 GG (for Se level 60 - 80µg/l, ~ 4 times) and GPX1 nCC/TXNRD2 nGG/SEP15 GG (for Se level <55µg/l, ~10 times).
Unselected ovarian cancers
Results were not statistically significant however tendencies similar to those found in BRCA1 carriers and unselected breast cancer were observed.
Unselected prostate cancers
For four genotypes: GPX1 CC, GPX4 nCC, TXNRD2 GG and SEP15 nGG lower risk (~3 times) was found for selenium level ~90µg/l.
Acknowledgments
Authors thank Ms. Zdziebło M, Ms. Bińczak J, Ms. Wałęsa K and Ms. Chodzyńska I for excellent technical assistance.
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This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Jaworska, K., Jakubowska, A., Durda, K. et al. Selenium (Se) and the risk of breast, ovarian and prostate cancers. Hered Cancer Clin Pract 10 (Suppl 3), A8 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/1897-4287-10-S3-A8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1897-4287-10-S3-A8