Selenium is an essential trace element that is crucial for cellular antioxidant defense against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Recently, many selenium-containing compounds have exhibited a wide spectrum of biological activities that make them promising scaffolds in Medicinal Chemistry, and, in particular, in the search for novel compounds with anticancer activity. Similarly, certain tellurium-containing compounds have also exhibited substantial biological activities. Here we provide an overview of the biological activities of seleno- and tellurocompounds including chemopreventive activity, antioxidant or pro-oxidant activity, modulation of the inflammatory processes, induction of apoptosis, modulation of autophagy, inhibition of multidrug efflux pumps such as P-gp, inhibition of cancer metastasis, selective targeting of tumors and enhancement of the cytotoxic activity of chemotherapeutic drugs, as well as overcoming tumor drug resistance. A review of the chemistry of the most relevant seleno- or tellurocompounds with activity against resistant cancers is also presented, paying attention to the synthesis of these compounds and to the preparation of bioactive selenium or tellurium nanoparticles. Based on these data, the use of these seleno- and tellurocompounds is a promising approach in the development of strategies that can drive forward the search for novel therapies or adjuvants of current therapies against drug-resistant cancers.

硒是一种必需的微量元素，对细胞抗氧化防御活性氧 (ROS) 至关重要。最近，许多含硒化合物表现出广泛的生物活性，使其成为药物化学中很有前途的支架，特别是在寻找具有抗癌活性的新化合物方面。类似地，某些含碲化合物也表现出显着的生物活性。在这里，我们概述了硒和碲化合物的生物活性，包括化学预防活性、抗氧化或促氧化活性、炎症过程的调节、细胞凋亡的诱导、自噬的调节、多药外排泵（如 P-gp）的抑制，抑制癌症转移，选择性靶向肿瘤和增强化疗药物的细胞毒活性，以及​​克服肿瘤耐药性。还介绍了最相关的具有抗耐药性癌症活性的硒或碲化合物的化学性质，重点关注这些化合物的合成和生物活性硒或碲纳米颗粒的制备。基于这些数据，这些硒化合物和碲化合物的使用是一种很有前景的方法，可用于推动寻找新疗法或当前针对耐药性癌症的疗法的佐剂。还介绍了最相关的具有抗耐药性癌症活性的硒或碲化合物的化学性质，重点关注这些化合物的合成和生物活性硒或碲纳米颗粒的制备。基于这些数据，这些硒化合物和碲化合物的使用是一种很有前景的方法，可用于推动寻找新疗法或当前针对耐药性癌症的疗法的佐剂。还介绍了最相关的具有抗耐药性癌症活性的硒或碲化合物的化学性质，重点关注这些化合物的合成和生物活性硒或碲纳米颗粒的制备。基于这些数据，这些硒化合物和碲化合物的使用是一种很有前景的方法，可用于推动寻找新疗法或当前针对耐药性癌症的疗法的佐剂。