Sodium selenite and cancer related lymphedema: Biological and pharmacological effects.
A significant percentage of cancer patients develop secondary lymphedema after surgery or radiotherapy. The preferred treatment of secondary lymphedema is complex physical therapy. Pharmacotherapy, for example with diuretics, has received little attention, because they were not effective and only offered short-term solutions. Sodium selenite showed promise as a cost-effective, nontoxic anti-inflammatory agent. Treatment with sodium selenite lowers reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, causes a spontaneous reduction in lymphedema volume, increases the efficacy of physical therapy for lymphedema, and reduces the incidence of erysipelas infections in patients with chronic lymphedema. Besides biological effects in reducing excessive production of ROS, sodium selenite also displays various pharmacological effects. So far the exact mechanisms of these pharmacological effects are mostly unknown, but probably include inhibition of adhesion protein expression.
biosyn Arzneimittel GmbH, Schorndorfer Straße 32, 70734 Fellbach, Germany. Electronic address: chpfister@t-online.de.
Christina
C
Pfister
biosyn Arzneimittel GmbH, Schorndorfer Straße 32, 70734 Fellbach, Germany.
Horst
H
Dawzcynski
Lympho Opt Fachklinik, Happurger Str. 15, 91224 Hohenstadt, Germany.
Franz-Josef
FJ
Schingale
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D019038:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C094990:adhesion receptor; D018038:Sodium Selenite
Inflammation; Lymphedema; Lymphedema therapy; Oxidative stress; Selenium; Sodium selenite