The evaluation of the accumulated experimental results on the action o
f complexed iron on cells indicates that the provoked cell injury is r
ather the consequence of an inhibition of the cytosolic Ca2+ concentra
tion regulatory system than art effect of iron-induced lipid peroxidat
ion. The role of the consequent intracellular ionic environment change
in the preneoplastic and neoplastic transformation of the cell is dis
cussed.