SELENIUM modulated redox signaling in renal cell carcinoma cells, shifting reactive oxygen species and survivability trajectories.
Study Design Models Oxidative Stress in Renal Cell Carcinoma
A laboratory study examined whether selenium’s antioxidant activity influences renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell survival under oxidative stress conditions. RCC cell lines were cultured and assigned to five conditions: untreated control, selenium treatment alone, hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress alone, oxidative stress followed by selenium, and selenium followed by oxidative stress. Outcomes were assessed after 72 hours.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured using a cellular detection assay, while cell viability was evaluated using an MTT based approach. The experimental design also allowed comparison of how treatment order might shape oxidative responses when selenium exposure and peroxide driven stress occurred in sequence.
Selenium In Renal Cell Carcinoma Shows Dual Effects
Across conditions involving hydrogen peroxide, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were higher than in control and selenium only groups. Mean ROS generation reached 125.4% in oxidative stress alone, 132.9% when oxidative stress was followed by selenium, and 135.3% when selenium preceded oxidative stress. By comparison, control cells measured 100%, while selenium only cells showed lower ROS generation at 91.7%.
Cell viability moved in the opposite direction. In the selenium only group, viability remained near baseline at 98.7%. In contrast, viability decreased in peroxide exposed conditions, measuring 80.8% for oxidative stress alone, 79.7% for oxidative stress followed by selenium, and 74.8% when selenium treatment preceded oxidative stress.
Interpreting The Redox Viability Relationship
The findings showed an observed association between higher ROS and lower cell viability, with peroxide exposed groups clustering toward higher oxidative burden and reduced survival. In baseline conditions without peroxide exposure, selenium reduced ROS and coincided with preserved viability, supporting an antioxidant profile in that context.
The authors concluded that selenium’s effects in renal cell carcinoma remain controversial because the same agent aligned with increased viability in low ROS settings, yet tracked with higher oxidative stress and reduced viability when oxidative stress was introduced. They highlighted the need for further research to clarify selenium’s context dependent behavior in cancer models.
Reference: El Menawy Z. The Role of Selenium as an Antioxidant in the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cureus. 2025;17(12):e98696.
