Selenium-Based Nanoplatforms: An Emerging Theranostic Paradigm for Gynecological Cancers.

Gynecological cancers present significant therapeutic challenges due to heterogeneity, drug resistance, and the lack of precise diagnostic tools. Selenium (Se), an essential trace element with intrinsic anticancer activity, has emerged as a promising candidate. Numerous epidemiological studies have confirmed a significant inverse correlation between selenium level and the risk of gynecological cancers' development, and a low selenium status portends a poorer prognosis. Of note, the value of selenium extends beyond as the potential biomarker that selenium supplementation acts as both a chemopreventive agent and a therapeutic adjuvant in oncology. However, the current understanding of the mechanism of various forms of selenium in the treatment of gynecological cancers remains insufficient. Therefore, this review firstly summarizes the advances of various selenium species (inorganic, organic, and selenium-based nanoparticles) for the treatment of gynecological cancers. Among these, selenium-based nanoparticles have become a potential candidate for the treatment of gynecological cancers due to their higher bioavailability, better anticancer activity, and lower toxicity. This review systematically highlights their multifaceted therapeutic mechanisms and the applications in cancer diagnosis and imaging. As the platforms that converge diverse treatment modalities with diagnostic functions, Se-based nanoparticles provide new insights into the therapeutic and early diagnosis applications in gynecological cancers.