**Summary:**
A newly synthesized nitrosubstituted organoselenium compound, diselenide 7, has demonstrated potential in combating aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cells. Research led by Dr. Asis Bala (Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology IASST, DST, GoI) and Dr. Krishna P. Bhabak (Department of Chemistry, IIT Guwahati) has shown that diselenide 7 reduces the invasiveness of these cancer cells by modulating various signaling pathways. The compound was synthesized through nucleophilic substitution of benzylic halides with NaSe and NaHSe. In vivo studies using Swiss albino mice with breast adenocarcinoma revealed that diselenide 7 significantly decreased tumor volume, reduced angiogenesis and metastasis, and extended the animals' lifespan. The compound's anticancer effect is attributed to its ability to target multiple survival mechanisms within cancer cells, including blocking the AktmTOR and ERK pathways, creating reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reducing inflammation. This research highlights the potential of nitrosubstituted organoselenium compounds as multi-targeting anticancer agents for effective cancer treatment. Release ID: 2162654.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Science Technology: The Indian government ministry responsible for science and technology.
triplenegative breast cancer: A type of breast cancer that does not express the genes for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), or HER2.
Dr. Asis Bala: Researcher at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology IASST, who jointly led the research.
Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology IASST: An autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology DST.
Department of Science and Technology DST: A department under the Government of India.
Dr. Krishna P. Bhabak: Researcher, Department of Chemistry at IIT Guwahati, who jointly led the research.
IIT Guwahati: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. Location Guwahati, Assam.
Swiss albino mice: A strain of mice used in the study of breast adenocarcinoma.
Ministry of Science & Technology
New compound synthesised can combat aggressive
breast cancer
Posted On: 01 SEP 2025 3:29PM by PIB Delhi
A newly designed nitro-substituted organoselenium compound can reduce the invasiveness of aggressive
triple-negative breast cancer cells by modulating various signalling pathways.
Nature has inspired many drug discovery strategies, including design and synthesis. Organoselenium
compounds, some sourced from plants and others synthesised in the lab are gaining attention for their
biological activities. However, their ability to target interconnected oncogenic signalling networks has not
been extensively studied, prompting research into their structural modifications and anticancer properties.
Research jointly led by Dr. Asis Bala, at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST),
an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), GoI, and Dr. Krishna P.
Bhabak, Department of Chemistry at IIT Guwahati, has successfully designed and synthesized an
organoselenium compound 4-nitro-substituted benzylic diselenide 7.
Figure: A schematic diagram illustrating the work completed.
The team synthesised it via nucleophilic substitution of benzylic halides with Na₂Se₂ and NaHSe, obtained by
reducing elemental selenium with sodium borohydride under an inert atmosphere.
This newly synthesized nitro-substituted organoselenium compound, called diselenide 7, was found to reduce
the invasiveness of aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cells by modulating various signaling pathways.
In Swiss albino mice with breast adenocarcinoma, it significantly decreased tumour volume and reduced
angiogenesis and metastasis, extending the animals' lifespan.
Investigations revealed that the compound exerts its anticancer effect by targeting multiple survivalmechanisms within cancer cells. This treatment blocks two important pathways, Akt/mTOR and ERK, that
help cancer cells grow and are critical for uncontrolled cell growth. It also creates reactive oxygen species
(ROS) and reduces inflammation, which can damage DNA and harm the cancer cells, leading to cell death
This study highlights the role of nitro-substituted organoselenium compounds as multitargeting anticancer
agents, supporting their development for effective cancer treatment.
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NKR/PSM
(Release ID: 2162654)