Open AccessIron and Cancer: 2020 Vision
Author(s) -
Suzy V. Torti,
Frank M. Torti
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.103
H-Index - 449
eISSN - 1538-7445
pISSN - 0008-5472
DOI - 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-2017
Subject(s) - cancer cell , cancer , cancer research , biology , cancer stem cell , intracellular , tumor microenvironment , cell signaling , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , genetics
New and provocative insights into the relationships between iron and cancer have been uncovered in recent years. These include delineation of connections that link cellular iron to DNA repair, genomic integrity, and oncogenic signaling as well as the discovery of ferroptosis, a novel iron-dependent form of cell death. In parallel, new molecules and pathways that regulate iron influx, intracellular iron trafficking, and egress in normal cells, and their perturbations in cancer have been discovered. In addition, insights into the unique properties of iron handling in tumor-initiating cells (cancer stem cells), novel contributions of the tumor microenvironment to the uptake and regulation of iron in cancer cells, and new therapeutic modalities that leverage the iron dependence of cancer have emerged.