Effect of Selenium in combination with Adriamycin or Taxol on several different cancer cells

The anti-neoplastic properties of an Selenium compound were studied in vitr o on several tumor cell lines: Breast (MCF-7, MCF-10, SKBR-3. BCAP37), Lung (RH2), Prostate (LNCap and PC-3), Colon (T84, Caco-2), Small Intestine (HC F8), and Liver (HepG2). We also examined additive or synergistic effect of Selenium in combination with standard anti-cancer drugs, Adriamycin (Doxoru bicin) and Taxol. The effect of Selenium was assessed by apoptosis; DNA syn thesis; growth rate by MIT assay; uptake of amino acid MeAIB by System A; a nd morphological changes. Our results demonstrate that MCF-7 and SKBR-3 sho wed increase in apoptosis as measured by DNA fragmentation and increase in "rounded" cells and membrane "blebbing': decrease in MeAIB uptake, and decr ease in DNA synthesis. These changes were Selenium dose dependent with opti mal inhibition at Selenium concentration between 4 and 40 ng/ml after 72 ha of treatment. Similar observations were made with RH2, HCF8, Caco-2 and He pG2 cells. In contrast, LNCap, PC-3, and T-84 were not significantly affect ed by Selenium. However; addition of Adriamycin or Taxol in combination wit h Selenium caused small but significant inhibition of prostate cancer cells LNCap and PC-3. Addition of chemotherapeutic agents either Taxol or Doxoru bicin with Selenium caused further inhibition of MCF-7, SKBR-3, RH2, HCF8, and HepG2 cells. In conclusion, Selenium has a significant anti-neoplastic effect on breast, lung, liver; and small intestinal tumor cells. Supplement ation of Selenium enhanced chemotherapeutic effect of Taxol and Doxorubicin in these cells beyond that seen with the chemotherapeutic drugs used alone . These in vitro studies on several cancer cell lines suggest a potential b enefit of Selenium-enhancement of anticancer effects other systems, and the refore offer further relevance to clinical trials efforts.