IRON AS A POTENTIAL COFACTOR IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF KAPOSIS-SARCOMA

The role of iron in the pathogenesis of several tumours is being incre asingly investigated. In particular, its involvement in the pathogenes is of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is suggested by the distribution of the en demic form of KS corresponding to continental rifts and associated iro n-oxide-rich volcanic clays. We investigated in vitro to what extent i ron supplementation or withdrawal could affect the growth of KS-derive d cells, by analysing the effects of adding iron salts (iron chloride and ferric nitrilotriacetate) and/or reducing iron by iron chelators ( desferrioxamine) on KS-derived cell cultures. The addition of iron sal ts strongly stimulated the growth of KS cells, as reflected by Increas e in thymidine incorporation and cell number. Conversely, desferrioxam ine and deferiprone inhibited cell growth. The Inhibitory effect of ir on chelation was more pronounced on rapidly dividing basic fibroblast- growth-factor-stimulated cells, These results may point to a novel the rapeutic approach to KS, (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.