Selenium-Containing Agents Acting on Cancer—A New Hope?
Sabrina Garbo,
Silvia Di Giacomo,
Dorota Łażewska,
Ewelina Honkisz-Orzechowska,
Antonella Di Sotto,
Rossella Fioravanti,
Clemens Zwergel,
Cecilia Battistelli
Affiliations
Sabrina Garbo
Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
Silvia Di Giacomo
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Dorota Łażewska
Department of Technology and Biotechnology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
Ewelina Honkisz-Orzechowska
Department of Technology and Biotechnology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Kraków, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
Antonella Di Sotto
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Rossella Fioravanti
Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Clemens Zwergel
Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Cecilia Battistelli
Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
Selenium-containing agents are more and more considered as an innovative potential treatment option for cancer. Light is shed not only on the considerable advancements made in understanding the complex biology and chemistry related to selenium-containing small molecules but also on Se-nanoparticles. Numerous Se-containing agents have been widely investigated in recent years in cancer therapy in relation to tumour development and dissemination, drug delivery, multidrug resistance (MDR) and immune system-related (anti)cancer effects. Despite numerous efforts, Se-agents apart from selenocysteine and selenomethionine have not yet reached clinical trials for cancer therapy. The purpose of this review is to provide a concise critical overview of the current state of the art in the development of highly potent target-specific Se-containing agents.
