Selenium nanoparticles restrain recurrence of cervical cancer in drug-free period by inhibiting the expression of ABC transporters

Cervical cancer remains the one of the most frequent malignant tumors in women around the world. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is a prevalent treatment for advanced cervical cancer, but it has significant side effects that necessitate drug-free periods during treatment cycles. Unfortunately, tumors often relapse during these intervals, highlighting the need for strategies to prevent recurrence. In the present study, the biological changes in cervical cancer cells following the withdrawal of cisplatin chemotherapy were investigated. Afterwards, the application of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) modified with lentinan (LNT) to address tumor recurrence during these drug-free periods was explored. Specifically, in vitro experiments demonstrated that SeNPs@LNT effectively inhibited tumor recurrence by promoting DNA damage, inducing apoptosis, and disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, in vivo experiments showed that SeNPs@LNT had a strong antitumor effect on cervical cancer during the drug-free period. It also remarkable that SeNPs@LNT might prevent the development of drug resistance by suppressing the expression of the ABC transporter and VEGF. Our findings suggest that SeNPs@LNT is a promising candidate for maintaining chemotherapy efficacy during the drug-free intervals of cisplatin treatment. • During the drug-free interval, the biological behavior of cervical cancer cells tends to revert and relapse. • SeNPs@LNT in drug-free interval prevented tumor recurrence via enhancing DNA damage and mitochondrial potential shifts. • SeNPs@LNT reduced drug resistance via decreasing ABC transporters and VEGF expression in cervical tumors. • SeNPs@LNT is a good candidate for sustaining chemotherapeutic efficacy during the drug-free periods of cisplatin therapy.