Organoammonium hydroselenites: antitumor action through radical balance regulation.

Organoammonium hydroselenites were synthesized and investigated as potential selective, anticancer prodrugs. These compounds were studied in vitro on human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080), hamster kidney endothelial (BHK 21) and normal mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH 3T3). Most of them were very active against HT-1080 (0.6-5.3 g/ml). Amino acid hydroselenites readily increased the nitric oxide (NO) concentration in the culture medium of HT-1080 cells (up to TG(100)=1500%); however, 4-amidohydroximinomethylpyridinium hydroselenite (TG(100)=24%) and o-phenanthrolinium hydroselenite (TG(100)=50%) were free radical inhibitors. All compounds were glutathione peroxidase inhibitors; some of them could also prevent hydrogen peroxide degradation by inhibition of catalase. The influence of the investigated ammonium hydroselenites on tumor cell (HT-1080) morphology was examined. The substances studied were also active in vivo against sarcoma S-180. The role of organoammonium hydroselenites as free radical regulators and their therapeutic antitumor are discussed.