Publication: Effect of high-dose sodium selenite therapy on polymorphonuclear leukocyte apoptosis in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients

Reference
Title	Effect of high-dose sodium selenite therapy on polymorphonuclear leukocyte apoptosis in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients
Topic	Selenium
Author	Asfour, IA, El Shazly, S, Fayek, MH, Hegab, HM, Raouf, S, Moussa, MAR
Year	2006
Journal	Biological trace element research
DOI	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1385/BTER:110:1:19

Author's Abstract The abstract and the information and conclusions contained therein were written by the authors of the publication.

The present study was undertaken to explore the effect of the administration of high doses of sodium selenite on apoptosis in polymorphonuclear leukocytes in patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Thirty patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were randomly divided into two groups. Group I was treated with chemotherapy and group II received 0.2 mg/kg/d sodium selenite in addition to chemotherapy. Flow cytometry was used for the monitoring of apoptosis on peripheral blood neutrophils at the time of diagnosis and after treatment in both groups of patients. Sodium selenite administration resulted in a significant reduction in neutrophils apoptosis (82±10% vs 32 ± 18%, p <0.05) and this was associated with significant reduction in infection rate following chemotherapy (67% vs 20%, p <0.05). Also, significant improvement in cardiac ejection fraction was observed (62 ± 4% vs 69 ± 5% p <0.05). It is concluded that sodium selenite administration at the dosage chosen acts as a cytoprotective agent, alleviating side effects and immunosuppressive effects of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents.

This publication is referenced in the following studies:

1. Asfour et al. (2006): Effect of high-dose sodium selenite therapy on polymorphonuclear leukocyte apoptosis in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients