Effect of high-dose sodium selenite therapy on polymorphonuclear leukocyte apoptosis in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients

The present study was undertaken to explore the effect of the administration of high doses of sodium selenite on apoptosis in polymorphonuclear leukocytes in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Thirty patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were randomly divided into two groups. Group I was treated with chemotherapy and group II received 0.2 mg/kg/d sodium selenite in addition to chemotherapy. Flow cytometry was used for the monitoring of apoptosis on peripheral blood neutrophils at the time of diagnosis and after treatment in both groups of patients. Sodium selenite administration resulted in a significant reduction in neutrophils apoptosis (82 +/- 10% vs 32 +/- 18%, p < 0.05) and this was associated with significant reduction in infection rate following chemotherapy (67% vs 20%, p < 0.05). Also, significant improvement in cardiac ejection fraction was observed (62 +/- 4% vs 69 +/- 5% p < 0.05). It is concluded that sodium selenite administration at the dosage chosen acts as a cytoprotective agent, alleviating side effects and immunosuppressive effects of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents.