Research advances in the role of selenium in reversing tumor multidrug resistance

Abstract

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a significant challenge in the cancer therapy, with mechanisms primarily involving increased drug efflux mediated by ABC transporters, leading to reduced intracellular drug concentrations. In recent years, various selenium-containing compounds have demonstrated extensive biological activities, including chemoprevention, antioxidant or pro-oxidant effects, and regulation of the nervous and immune system activities. One of the most prominent physiological characteristics of selenium is its antioxidant capacity, which can regulate the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body, making it a promising group for reversing MDR activity. Furthermore, research has shown that natural selenium compounds, including selenate, selenite, selenomethionine, and selenocystein, can inhibit the activity of drug resistance proteins and increase the intracellular accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs by regulating intracellular ROS levels. For instance, sodium selenite has been shown to markedly increase the sensitivity of drug-resistant cell lines to doxorubicin, exhibiting significant antitumor efficacy and potential for reversing MDR. These findings suggest that selenium compounds hold considerable promise in addressing multidrug resistance. Consequently, this review focuses on elucidating the mechanisms of MDR and the chemical properties of selenium compounds, with particular emphasis on their activities in reversing MDR, thereby providing novel strategies for overcoming MDR in tumor cells.