Comparative Safety and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Three Oral Selenium Compounds in Cancer Patients

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#aged #aged-80-and-over #dna-damage #double-blind-method #female

Comparative Safety and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Three Oral Selenium Compounds in Cancer Patients

Evans et al., 2019 | Biol Trace Elem Res | Rct

Citation

Evans Stephen O, Jacobson Gregory M, ... Jameson Michael B. Comparative Safety and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Three Oral Selenium Compounds in Cancer Patients. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2019-Jun;189(2):395-404. doi:10.1007/s12011-018-1501-0

Abstract

Selenium (Se) compounds have demonstrated anticancer properties in both preclinical and clinical studies, with particular promise in combination therapy where the optimal form and dose of selenium has yet to be established. In a phase I randomised double-blinded study, the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of sodium selenite (SS), Se-methylselenocysteine (MSC) and seleno-l-methionine (SLM) were compared in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and a cohort of patients with solid malignancies. Twenty-four patients received 400 μg of elemental Se as either SS, MSC or SLM for 8 weeks. None of the Se compounds were associated with any significant toxicities, and the total plasma Se AUC of SLM was markedly raised in comparison to MSC and SS. DNA damage assessment revealed negligible genotoxicity, and some minor reductions in lymphocyte counts were observed. At the dose level used, all three Se compounds are well-tolerated and non-genotoxic. Further analyses of the pharmacodynamic effects of Se on healthy and malignant peripheral blood mononuclear cells will inform the future evaluation of higher doses of these Se compounds. The study is registered under the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry No: ACTRN12613000118707.

Key Findings

The study is registered under the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry No: ACTRN12613000118707.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • DNA Damage
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Selenium Compounds
  • Selenocysteine
  • Selenomethionine

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Phase I, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Vertical: selenium-cancer

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09