Significance of selenium levels in non-small cell lung cancer patients: A comparative study

Selenite as a dual apoptotic and ferroptotic agent synergizes with EGFR and KRAS inhibitors with epigenetic interference

BACKGROUND

Selenium, an essential trace element, has previously been investigated as a pro-apoptotic and DNA demethylation agent. It sensitizes the response to chemotherapy in patients who were refractory to cytotoxic agents. Meanwhile, ferroptosis is a novel approach to cancer treatment by triggering cell death and reversing drug resistance. The role of selenium in treating cancer cells harboring druggable oncogenic alterations and its underlying mechanism are largely unknown.

RESULTS

We treated lung adenocarcinoma cell lines-EGFR-mutant H1975 (H1975 ^{EGFR p.L858R and p.T790M}) and KRAS-mutant H358 (H358 ^{KRAS p.G12C}), with sodium selenite to examine its effect on cell apoptosis, ferroptosis, and DNA methylation, as well as its interaction with existing targeted therapy, osimertinib, and adagrasib. We observed selenite to be a dual apoptotic and ferroptotic agent on lung cancer cells, associated with the activation of p38-ATF4-DDIT3 axis in the unfolded protein response. Ferroptosis induction was more remarkable in H1975 than H358. Selenite also altered cellular DNA methylation machinery through downregulating DNMT1 and upregulating TET1, though not as a major mechanism of its activity. Low-dose selenite synergized with osimertinib in EGFR-mutant H1975, and with adagrasib in KRAS-mutant H358, with stronger synergism observed in H1975.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that selenite is a potential apoptotic and ferroptotic drug candidate for the treatment of especially EGFR- and potentially KRAS-mutant lung cancer.

Evaluation of the nutritional quality of veal supplemented with organic selenium and its effect on selenium status of people

In the first stage of our research we found out a higher content of selenium in the meat of calves of experimental group (with added the organic form of selenium to the feed mixture) compared to control group (fed without organic form of selenium). In the second stage of our research we focused on monitoring the impact of selenium enriched veal meat and on selenium concentration in blood serum and the selected biochemical parameters of lipid spectrum of the experimental group of volunteers. Ten people who were participating in the research were at the age range between 29 - 56 years. All the volunteers consumed veal meat enriched with organic selenium for 4 weeks. Before starting the experiment we took venous blood of the volunteers and this blood was considered as a control sample of selenium in blood serum of the experimental group. Selenium concentration in blood serum of the examined group was determined by an average of 58.31 ±5.36 mg.L.-1 and none of them reached the optimal level of selenium. Consequently, we carried out the additional blood sampling after 2 and 4 weeks of the consumption of veal meat. There was registered a slight increasing of selenium status, whereas after the finishing the consumption, we determined the average selenium concentration in blood serum of the experimental group 60.73 ±4.05 mg.L-1. The evaluation of lipid profile of the experimental group showed (after input blood sampling) higher values of total cholesterol level and lower levels of HDL cholesterol. This fact shows the higher risk of starting the cardiovascular diseases. Reported research results didn't show statistically significant changes of blood lipid spectrum of the experimental group. We concluded that the consumption of supplemented veal meat can positively affect the level of selenium in our body and thereby increase it can increase the protective effect against the influence of free radicals.