[Selenium therapy in colorectal tumors?].
BACKGROUND
Is the complementary supplementation of selenium useful in the therapy of colorectal cancer?


METHODS
Fifty-three patients with primary colorectal cancer received a selenium treatment for 19 days in addition to a complete in-patient rehabilitation cure based on a behavioural approach. A comparative control group consisted of 41 patients. Measured factors were the selenium content in serum and whole blood, GSH-Px activity and TBARS in serum. Both the intake of selenium by nutrition and the patients' life quality were determined additionally on day 1 and 19. The tumor marker CA 19-9 was measured only on day 1.


RESULTS
A latent selenium deficiency was observed while gsh-px activity or concentration of TBARS were normal. The selenium status corresponds to the concentration of the tumor marker CA 19-9. The selenium status improves through supplementation, accompanied by a further increase of GSH-Px activity. During supplementation the patients' life quality improves; subjective physical complaints decrease.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research will be necessary on both the dependency of the selenium status on the tumor marker concentration and on the development of the cancer. Optimum GSH-Px activity and individually different responses also need additional investigation. The influence of selenium on the patients' life quality should be investigated in the context of immunomodulation.
Lasch
K
K
Interdisziplinäres Therapiezentrum Weissenburg, Rehabilitationsklinik für Onkologie und Rheumatologie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena.
Bräsel
C
C
Jahn
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011788:Quality of Life; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D012643:Selenium