Iron overload and cancer

Most experimental and human data support the hypothesis that iron overload is a risk factor for cancer in general and liver cancer in particular. This oncogenic effect could be explained by an overproduction of reactive oxyge n species and free radicals. in cirrhosis due to genetic haemochromatosis ( homozygosity for the mutation C282 Y in the HFE gene) there is an increase incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Few cases have been reported in gene tic haemochromatosis with iron overload but without cirrhosis. In hepatocel lular carcinoma developed in non cirrhotic liver there is a mild iron overl oad iir more than 50 % of cases. In these patients heterozygous and compoun d C282 Y mutations are found in 36 %. In black Africans, iron overload gene tically determined but not linked to mutations in the HFE gene increases al so the risk of hepatocellullar carcinoma. Among the many factors (viral hep atitis, alcohol, tobacoo etc.) which play a role bl hepatic carcinogenesis iron overload is probably an important one and therefore should be treated.