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Review
. 2021 Nov 10:11:778492.
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.778492. eCollection 2021.

The Role of Iron in Cancer Progression

Qianqian Guo  1 , Liwen Li  2 , Shanshan Hou  3 , Ziqiao Yuan  4 , Chenhui Li  2 , Wenzhou Zhang  1 , Lufeng Zheng  2 , Xiaoman Li  5
Affiliations
Review

The Role of Iron in Cancer Progression

Qianqian Guo et al. Front Oncol. .

Abstract

Iron is an essential trace element for the human body, and its deficiency or excess can induce a variety of biological processes. Plenty of evidences have shown that iron metabolism is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. In addition, iron plays an important role in cell death, which is very important for the development of potential strategies for tumor treatment. Here, we reviewed the latest research about iron metabolism disorders in various types of tumors, the functions and properties of iron in ferroptosis and ferritinophagy, and new opportunities for iron-based on treatment methods for tumors, providing more information regarding the prevention and treatment of tumors.

Keywords: cancer; ferritinophagy; ferroptosis; iron; prognostic; therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Iron metabolism.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cellular iron metabolism. (A) When the cellular iron levels are low, IRPs bind to the 5’ IREs of FPN1 and FT mRNA, resulting in translation repression. Additionally, IRPs bind to 3’ IREs in TFR1 mRNA to stabilize the DMT1 mRNA and increase TFR1 protein synthesis. These two effects can increase intracellular iron. (B) When the cellular iron levels are high, IRP1 converts to cytosolic aconitase and IRP2 is degraded, preventing IRP1 and IRP2 from binding to the IREs of these mRNAs. This permits unimpeded translation of FPN1 and FT and fosters degradation of DMT1 and TFR1 mRNA, leading to decreased cytosolic iron.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Ferroptosis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Ferritinophagy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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