Serum selenium and the risk of cervical cancer among women in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between serum selenium and cervical cancer.


METHODS
We conducted a case-control study of cervical cancer in five areas around Birmingham, AL; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; Miami, FL; and Philadelphia, PA. Community controls were selected by random-digit dialing and were matched to invasive cervical cancer cases by age, race/ethnicity, and telephone exchange. Serum selenium was determined by neutron activation analysis. Logistic regression analysis controlling for known risk factors of cervical cancer, including human papillomavirus (HPV) type-16 measured serologically, was performed on 227 invasive cases, 127 in-situ cases, and 526 controls.


RESULTS
Values of serum selenium ranged from 67.5 to 185.0 ng/ml. Adjusted odds ratios for invasive cervical cancer by quintile were: 1.0 (highest selenium), 1.1, 1.0, 0.8, and 1.0 (lowest selenium), p for trend = 0.82. Similar patterns were observed for Stage I invasive, and Stages II-IV invasive cases, suggesting severity of disease did not influence the null results. Although no associations were seen among current or never smokers, a protective effect of selenium was suggested among former smokers. Effect modification was not evident for other variables examined.


CONCLUSIONS
This study does not support a relationship between serum selenium and invasive cervical cancer at typical serum selenium levels in the US.
Thompson
Frances E
FE
National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Applied Research Program, Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Branch, EPN 4016, 6130 Executive Blvd, MSC 7344, Bethesda, MD 20892-7344, USA.
Patterson
Blossom H
BH
Weinstein
Stephanie J
SJ
McAdams
Mary
M
Spate
Vickie L
VL
Hamman
Richard F
RF
Levine
Robert S
RS
Mallin
Katherine
K
Stolley
Paul D
PD
Brinton
Louise A
LA
Morris
J Steven
JS
Ziegler
Regina G
RG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology
D000975:Antioxidants; D012643:Selenium