Selenium and Cancer Prevention

Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, morbidity and mortality from cancer continue to represent a major health burden. Given the potentially devastating consequences and the fear associated with a diagnosis of cancer, it is not surprising that physicians, patients, and the public may hold substantial optimism for and have considerable interest in seemingly simple and relatively easily implemented measures, such as dietary modification or use of vitamin and trace element supplementation, that appear rapidly effective for cancer prevention. Previous studies examining the potential effects of dietary supplements, such as antioxidant vitamins¹,²for prevention of cancer, have produced mixed results. In this issue ofTHE JOURNAL, Clark and colleagues³present promising but preliminary findings from a randomized trial evaluating the possible effectiveness of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention. See also p 1957. The Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Study by Clark et al³randomized 1312 patients to receive placebo