CHAPTER 13: Selenium as a Modulator of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra in Cancer

The biological tissues require proper intake of trace elements in diet in order to sustain normal growth and various metabolic functions. Selenium is one of the essential trace elements and has an important physiological role in human systems. Selenium performs its various functions through selenoproteins – the key functional associates of this trace element. Selenium is believed to exhibit anticancer effects in varied forms of cancers in animals as well as humans. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is the upcoming biophysical technique being explored for its diagnostic efficacy in various pathological states including cancer. The role of selenium as a modulator of FTIR spectra during colon carcinogenesis has been presented in this chapter.