Interactive effects of selenium and chromium on mammary tumor development and growth in MMTV-infected female mice and their relevance to human cancer

• Published in: Biological trace element research Vol. 109; no. 3; pp. 281 - 292
• Main Author: Schrauzer, G. N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Humana Press 01.03.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents - antagonists & inhibitors; Anticarcinogenic Agents - metabolism; Anticarcinogenic Agents - pharmacology; Cancer; Chromium; Chromium - metabolism; Chromium - pharmacology; dose response; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Female; females; foods; growth and development; Health risks; Humans; kidneys; liver; mammary neoplasms (animal); Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental - metabolism; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental - pathology; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental - prevention & control; Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; mortality; Mouse mammary tumor virus; nitrates; Retroviridae Infections - metabolism; Retroviridae Infections - pathology; risk reduction; Rodents; Selenium; Selenium - antagonists & inhibitors; Selenium - metabolism; Selenium - pharmacology; sodium selenite; Time Factors; Tumor Virus Infections - metabolism; Tumor Virus Infections - pathology; Tumors
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720; 0163-4984
• DOI: 10.1385/BTER:109:3:281

Evidence for interactive effects of chromium and selenium on the appearance of mammary tumors was obtained by exposing female virgin C₃H mice infected with the murine mammary tumorvirus (MMTV) to subtoxic levels of Cr [as Cr(III) nitrate] and Se (as sodium selenite) in the supply water. Cr counteracted the inhibitory effect of Se on tumor development in a dose-dependent manner, shortened the tumor latency period, and accelerated tumor growth rates. Exposure to Cr also altered the levels of Se in the liver and kidneys of the mice, indicating that Cr interacts with Se and affects its organ distribution. Chromium must be added to the list of Se-antagonistic elements that weaken or abolish the antitumorigenic effects of Se. These findings are relevant to human cancer as previous studies revealed the age-corrected mortalities from breast and other major forms of cancer in different countries to be inversely correlated with the dietary Se intakes, and directly correlated with the estimated intakes of Cr and of other Se-antagonistic elements. The presence of these elements in foods must be taken into account when estimating the optimal dose of supplemental Se for cancer risk reduction.