PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF SELENIUM IN BREAST CANCER

In most studies evaluating the etiopathogenesis of breast cancer, diet and selenium (Se) have been reported as risk factors. Se is a trace element and studies show that its plasma concentration is higher in breast cancer patients when compared with controls. However in some studies, there was no difference between the patients and controls. So, Se has not been proved as a risk factor in breast cancer etiopathogenesis. In our study, the concentration of Se was measured in the breast tissue specimens obtained from 15 patients with breast cancer. There was no statistically significant difference between the Se concentrations of the normal and cancer tissues. When the other risk factors (menopausal status, stage, histologic grade, body mass index, smoking, estrogen receptor status, histologic type) were compared with Se levels, the difference was not statistically significant. However there was considerable difference between Se concentrations of obese and nonobese patients.

Keywords: breast cancer, selenium