Investigation Influence of Serum selenium levels on the risk of laryngeal cancer

BackgroundCancers of the upper aerodigestive tract are relatively common, and among them, laryngeal malignancy holds the second rank. Selenium is an essential trace element whose biological function in human cells has not been fully clarified. While moderate levels of selenium may exert protective antioxidant activity, both insufficient and excessive amounts have been linked to carcinogenesis.ObjectiveThe present investigation aimed to evaluate whether serum selenium concentration is associated with the likelihood of developing laryngeal cancer.MethodsWe performed a case–control study involving ۳۰ untreated patients with laryngeal cancer and ۳۰ individuals without the disease, recruited from Ghaem and Imam Reza Hospitals in Mashhad, Iran. The two groups were matched for age, sex, cigarette exposure (pack-years), duration of opium consumption, symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, and occupational dust exposure. Venous blood samples were obtained before treatment to measure serum selenium. Mean values were then statistically compared between cases and controls.ResultsAcross all ۶۰ participants, the mean serum selenium level was ۹۶.۳۷ ± ۲۰.۱۳ µg/L. Patients in the cancer group had higher concentrations (۱۰۲.۸۹ ± ۱۹.۴۰ µg/L) compared with the control group (۸۹.۸۵ ± ۱۸.۹۸ µg/L). The difference reached statistical significance (p = ۰.۰۱۱).ConclusionThis study suggests that elevated serum selenium levels may be linked with an increased probability of laryngeal cancer.

کلیدواژه ها:

Laryngeal cancer ، Selenium ، Aerodigestive system ، Case-control study