ScholarWorks@숙명여자대학교

초록

Iron is an important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living organisms. Oxidative damages to cellular components including DNA, protein, and lipids are key mechanisms in tumor initiation and promotion. Iron in biological systems presents either as a part of heme molecules or as a free ion that reacts with a superoxide or a hydrogen peroxide to form hydroxyl radical, suggesting it may act as a carcinogen. Epidemiological studies have indicated that dietary iron intake is positively associated with colorectal cancer risk while the associations between dietary iron and risk of breast and endometrium cancers are not conclusive. Oxidative tissue damages due to excess iron accumulation in the liver and kidney have been shown to be associated with cancers of the respective organ of the experimental animals. Because iron is an essential nutrient involved in cell growth and function, iron chelators have been used to treat cancer by suppressing tumor cell growth, and are considered as cancer therapeutic agents. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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