Selenium and Burkitt Lymphoma incidence in Western Kenya

Cancer is emerging to be a major problem in Kenya. It is a multi-step process and not much is known in the causal matrix. Cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are very common in malaria holo-endemic areas a long the Lake Victoria Basin. The only suspected etiological agents for this cancer (Burkitt Lymphoma (BL)) are Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and holoendemic Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, recent BL incidence show a more refined spatial clusters within the region that strongly suggest the existence of co-factors. One such co-factor investigated GPx was selenium. This publication outlines the findings of the study on GPx selenium, a surrogate of the body nutritional status. It is known to regulate hormonal and enzymatic pathways, reactive oxygen species (ROS)and DNA repairs. Its deficiency potentiate microbial mutations and increased risk of BL pathogenesis.