[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-439832-105":59,"doc-detail-439832-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","therapeutic-potential-of-selenium-in-breast-cancer-targeting-apoptosis-and-proliferation-pathways","Therapeutic potential of selenium in breast cancer - targeting apoptosis and proliferation pathways","","Selenium, an essential trace element, modulates critical cellular processes in cancer biology, with particular relevance to breast cancer pathogenesis. Evidence indicates a dual behavior: selenium acts as both an antioxidant and a pro-oxidant depending on concentration and chemical form. Through redox signaling and oxidative stress modulation, selenium shifts the balance between survival and programmed cell death. Molecular studies show induction of apoptosis via intrinsic and extrinsic pathways and suppression of tumor proliferation via cell-cycle arrest and PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK inhibition. Its dose-dependent paradox necessitates cautious optimization and may be most effective in combination with conventional anticancer drugs.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/therapeutic-potential-of-selenium-in-breast-cancer-targeting-apoptosis-and-proliferation-pathways/439832/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/therapeutic-potential-of-selenium-in-breast-cancer-targeting-apoptosis-and-proliferation-pathways/439832.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"McQueen","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-31","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",12,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"How does selenium influence apoptosis in breast cancer cells?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"Selenium induces apoptosis through intrinsic (mitochondrial) and extrinsic (death receptor-mediated) pathways. It activates caspases, increases Bax, decreases Bcl-2, and influences p53-related regulation.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What mechanisms does selenium use to suppress breast cancer proliferation?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"Selenium impairs tumor growth by halting the cell cycle and suppressing proliferative signaling. It inhibits pathways including PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"Why is dose optimization important for selenium in breast cancer therapy?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"Selenium shows paradoxical effects at higher doses, reflecting its concentration-dependent antioxidant versus pro-oxidant behavior. Careful dose optimization and personalized approaches are needed to maximize benefit while managing risks.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},439832,1790915269,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":140,"language":141,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":142,"faqs":143,"seo_title":144,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":145,"read_time":146,"preview_page_count":4},5909890329169,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","Review  \nTherapeutic potential of selenium in breast cancer: targeting apoptosis and proliferation pathways  \nEmmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu, PhDa,b ,*  \nAbstract  \nSelenium, an essential trace element, has garnered significant attention for its role in modulating key cellular processes in cancer biology, particularly within breast cancer pathogenesis. Emerging evidence suggests that selenium exhibits a dual role – acting as both an antioxidant and a pro-oxidant – depending on its concentration and chemical form. This dynamic behavior enables selenium to influence critical pathways associated with apoptosis and proliferation, which are often dysregulated in breast cancer. By modulating oxidative stress and redox signaling, selenium plays a unique role in maintaining the balance between cell survival and programmed cell death. Molecular studies have revealed that selenium induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, involving mitochondrial dysfunction, caspase activation, and regulation of key genes such as p53, Bax, and Bcl-2 . Simultaneously, selenium impairs tumor growth by halting the cell cycle and suppressing proliferative signals via PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK pathways. These antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic actions position selenium as a promising agent for both prevention and therapy, especially when considered in combination with conventional anticancer drugs. However, selenium’s paradoxical effects at higher doses underscore the need for cautious dose optimization and personalized approaches. Keywords: apoptosis, breast cancer, proliferation, redox signaling, selenium  \nIntroduction  \nBreast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Despite significant advancements in screening, diagnostics, and treatment, the intricate interplay of molecular pathways governing tumor progression and therapeutic resistance continues to pose challenges. Central to the pathophysiology of breast cancer is the dysregulation of cellular mechanisms that control proliferation and apoptosis. A fine-tuned balance between cell division and programmed cell death is crucial for maintaining normal tissue homeostasis, and its disruption contributes to uncontrolled tumor growth and malignancy[1,2] . Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, serves as a natural safeguard against cancer development by eliminating damaged or abnormal cells. In contrast, proliferation drives tissue growth and regeneration but can  \naDepartment of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe and bThe Department ofMolecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa  \nSponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article.  \n*Corresponding author. Address: Department of Biomedical and Laboratory Science, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe; The Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.  \nTel.: +[2348037369912. E-mail: emmanuelobeagu@yahoo.com](2348037369912. E-mail: emmanuelobeagu@yahoo.com) (E.I. Obeagu). Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CCBY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.  \nAnnals of Medicine & Surgery (2026) 88:597–609  \nReceived 4 July 2025; Accepted 20 November 2025  \nPublished online 3 December 2025  \n[http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000004480](http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000004480)  \nHIGHLIGHTS  \n● Selenium modulates key apoptotic pathways in breast cancer cells.  \n● Enhances tumor suppressor activity and reduces oncogene expression.  \n● Disrupts ca","cbCaiud0kwader4W","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiud0kwader4W","pdf",662443,13,"English","# Highlights\n## Selenium modulates apoptotic pathways\n## Enhances tumor suppressor activity\n## Reduces proliferation and cell-cycle progression\n## Synergizes with chemotherapy\n## Exhibits subtype-specific effects\n# Introduction\n## Breast cancer burden and pathway dysregulation\n## Apoptosis versus proliferation in tumor progression\n## Selenium’s anticancer rationale and redox effects\n# Mechanistic overview (apoptosis and proliferation pathways)","[{\"question\":\"How does selenium influence apoptosis in breast cancer cells?\",\"answer\":\"Selenium induces apoptosis through intrinsic (mitochondrial) and extrinsic (death receptor-mediated) pathways. It activates caspases, increases Bax, decreases Bcl-2, and influences p53-related regulation.\"},{\"question\":\"What mechanisms does selenium use to suppress breast cancer proliferation?\",\"answer\":\"Selenium impairs tumor growth by halting the cell cycle and suppressing proliferative signaling. It inhibits pathways including PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK.\"},{\"question\":\"Why is dose optimization important for selenium in breast cancer therapy?\",\"answer\":\"Selenium shows paradoxical effects at higher doses, reflecting its concentration-dependent antioxidant versus pro-oxidant behavior. Careful dose optimization and personalized approaches are needed to maximize benefit while managing risks.\"}]","Therapeutic potential of selenium in breast cancer - targeting apoptosis and proliferation pathways | PDF",1790690356,33]