Differential effects of selenium (Se) on normal and malignant cells treated with chemotherapy (CT) and radiation (RT).

Abstract

e13583 Background: Preclinical work has demonstrated that Se compounds potentiate anticancer effects of CT and RT while reducing normal tissue toxicities. The molecular basis for the therapeutic selectivity has yet to be fully elucidated but includes modulation of intracellular glutathione (GSH) concentrations, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress responses, DNA repair, induction of apoptosis and cellular resistance to CT and RT. Our aim was to evaluate the dose-response relationship of the Se compound methylseleninic acid (MSA) on molecular pathways involved in the response of normal and malignant cells to CT and RT. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from healthy blood donors and malignant THP-1 human monocytic leukaemia cells were exposed in vitro to MSA 2.5, 5 or 15 µM in varying combinations with MSA, RT, cisplatin (Pt), doxorubicin (Dox) and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). GSH concentration was measured by ELISA, DNA damage and repair by COMET assay, cell viability by MTT assay and ER stress response protein expression by western blotting. Results: MSA was selectively toxic to THP-1 cells and induced a protective increase in GSH in PBMC but a decrease in high concentrations within THP-1 cells. DNA damage induced by Ara-C or Dox in the COMET assay was significantly reduced by MSA in PBMC but increased in THP-1 cells. Cell death after 2 Gy RT was increased by all doses of MSA in THP-1 cells but only by the highest dose in PBMC. The cytotoxicity of Dox and Ara-C at sublethal doses was significantly enhanced by MSA in THP-1 cells and to a lesser extent in PBMC, but MSA increased cell death from Pt only in THP-1 cells. MSA induced a protective ER stress response in PBMC exposed to Ara-C but an apoptotic response in THP-1 cells. Conclusions: MSA at clinically-relevant concentrations had a differential effect on cell survival and death responses to RT and CT with relative protection of PBMC and enhanced death of THP-1 cells. Several mechanisms mediated this therapeutic selectivity and the dose-dependence of the Se effect varied between malignant and normal cells. These assays could potentially be used in clinical trials to evaluate pharmacodynamic markers of Se effects in conjunction with CT and/or RT.