Open AccessRole of iron in carcinogenesis: Cancer as a ferrotoxic disease
Author(s) -
Toyokuni Shinya
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2008.01001.x
Subject(s) - hemochromatosis , hepcidin , carcinogenesis , ferroportin , cancer , hereditary hemochromatosis , iron deficiency , population , physiology , medicine , biology , cancer research , anemia , environmental health
Iron is abundant universally. During the evolutionary processes, humans have selected iron as a carrier of oxygen inside the body. However, iron works as a double‐edged sword, and its excess is a risk for cancer, presumably via generation of reactive oxygen species. Thus far, pathological conditions such as hemochromatosis, chronic viral hepatitis B and C, exposure to asbestos fibers, as well as endometriosis have been recognized as iron overload‐associated risks for human cancer. Indeed, iron is carcinogenic in animal experiments. These reports unexpectedly revealed that there are target genes in iron‐induced carcinogenesis and that iron‐catalyzed oxidative DNA damage is not random in vivo . Several iron transporters and hepcidin, a peptide hormone regulating iron metabolism, were discovered in the past decade. Furthermore, a recent epidemiological study reported that iron reduction by phlebotomy decreased cancer risk in the apparently normal population. These results warrant reconsideration of the role of iron in carcinogenesis and suggest that fine control of body iron stores would be a wise strategy for cancer prevention. ( Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 9–16)