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Serum selenium and the risk of cervical cancer among women in the United States

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Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between serum selenium and cervical cancer. Methods: We conducted a case–control study of cervical cancer in five areas around Birmingham, AL; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; Miami, FL; and Philadelphia, PA. Community controls were selected by random-digit dialing and were matched to invasive cervical cancer cases by age, race/ethnicity, and telephone exchange. Serum selenium was determined by neutron activation analysis. Logistic regression analysis controlling for known risk factors of cervical cancer, including human papillomavirus (HPV) type-16 measured serologically, was performed on 227 invasive cases, 127 in-situ cases, and 526 controls. Results: Values of serum selenium ranged from 67.5 to 185.0 ng/ml. Adjusted odds ratios for invasive cervical cancer by quintile were: 1.0 (highest selenium), 1.1, 1.0, 0.8, and 1.0 (lowest selenium), p for trend = 0.82. Similar patterns were observed for Stage I invasive, and Stages II–IV invasive cases, suggesting severity of disease did not influence the null results. Although no associations were seen among current or never smokers, a protective effect of selenium was suggested among former smokers. Effect modification was not evident for other variables examined. Conclusions: This study does not support a relationship between serum selenium and invasive cervical cancer at typical serum selenium levels in the US.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Frances E. Thompson

  2. Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Applied Research Program Risk Factor Monitoring and Methods Branch, National Cancer, EPN 4016, 6130 Executive Blvd MSC 7344, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7344, USA

    Frances E. Thompson

  3. Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Blossom H. Patterson

  4. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Stephanie J. Weinstein, Louise A. Brinton & Regina G. Ziegler

  5. Information Management Services, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA

    Mary McAdams

  6. University of Missouri at Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA

    Vickie L. Spate & J. Steven Morris

  7. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA

    Richard F. Hamman

  8. Department of Occupational and Preventive Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA

    Robert S. Levine

  9. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Katherine Mallin

  10. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Paul D. Stolley

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  1. Frances E. Thompson
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  2. Blossom H. Patterson
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Thompson, F.E., Patterson, B.H., Weinstein, S.J. et al. Serum selenium and the risk of cervical cancer among women in the United States. Cancer Causes Control 13, 517–526 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016328407610

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