Selenium in the form of
sodium selenite is an essential
micronutrient, that acts as an
antioxidant/
anticancer agent by its numerous macromolecules associated with them. This study emphasizes further evidence on its role as
anticancer agent in experimental rats with
N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) initiated (200 mg kg(-1)
body weight) and
phenobarbital (PB) promoted
hepatoma. Serum, whole liver tissue (control animals, n=6),
hepatoma and surrounding liver tissue samples from DEN-treated rats and rats supplemented with
selenite (n=6) were collected. Total
protein,
albumin,
globulin and
albumin/
globulin ratio were investigated.
Hexose,
hexosamine and
sialic acid were also quantified. Animals treated with DEN resulted in significantly decreased levels of total
protein,
albumin and
albumin/
globulin ratio; on the other hand,
globulin content was increased significantly when compared to control rats. We have also observed significant increased levels of
hexose,
hexosamine and
sialic acid in serum, whole liver tissue (control),
hepatoma and surrounding liver tissue of control and experimental animals. Supplementation of
selenite (4 ppm) either before initiation, during initiation and/or during promotion stages alters the above biochemical changes significantly. Thus, supplementations of
selenite in
cancer bearing animals reduce the adverse changes that occur during
cancer condition. However, the chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic effect of
selenite is more pronounced when it was supplemented before and/or during initiation of
cancer when compared to promotion stage. Our results emphasize the role of
sodium selenite in
cancer and strongly indicate its role as an essential
micronutrient in
cancer chemoprevention and
therapy.