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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Can selenium levels act as a marker of colorectal cancer risk?

Authors: Marcin R Lener, Satish Gupta, Rodney J Scott, Martin Tootsi, Maria Kulp, Mari-Liis Tammesoo, Anu Viitak, Anders Metspalu, Pablo Serrano-Fernández, Józef Kładny, Katarzyna Jaworska-Bieniek, Katarzyna Durda, Magdalena Muszyńska, Grzegorz Sukiennicki, Anna Jakubowska, Jan Lubiński

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Selenium has attracted attention because of its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protects cells from damage. Certain breakdown products of selenium are believed to prevent tumor growth by enhancing the immune cell activity and suppressing the development of tumor blood vessels. In this observational study, selenium level was measured in a series of patients from Poland and Estonia to determine a correlation between levels of this microelement and colorectal cancer risk.

Methods

A total of 169 colorectal cancer patients and 169 healthy controls were enrolled in the study after obtaining their informed consent. Selenium level in the blood serum was measured using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS). The statistical analysis was performed by Fisher’s exact test.

Results

The threshold point of selenium level was 55 μg/l and 65 μg/l for Poland and Estonia respectively, for an increase in cancer risk. The lower levels of selenium were associated with greater risk of colorectal cancer.

Conclusions

The result reveals a significant strong association between low selenium level and the colorectal cancer risk in both Estonian and Polish populations.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Can selenium levels act as a marker of colorectal cancer risk?
Authors
Marcin R Lener
Satish Gupta
Rodney J Scott
Martin Tootsi
Maria Kulp
Mari-Liis Tammesoo
Anu Viitak
Anders Metspalu
Pablo Serrano-Fernández
Józef Kładny
Katarzyna Jaworska-Bieniek
Katarzyna Durda
Magdalena Muszyńska
Grzegorz Sukiennicki
Anna Jakubowska
Jan Lubiński
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-13-214

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