Iron therapy as treatment of anemia: a potentially detrimental and hazardous strategy in colorectal cancer patients

In colorectal cancer patients, iron therapy, and especially intravenous iron therapy, is increasingly used to treat anemia and reduce the use of blood transfusions. However, iron has also been shown to be an essential nutrient for rapidly proliferating tissues and cells. In this respect, anemia of inflammation, characterized by limited duodenal iron uptake and sequestration of iron into the reticuloendothelial system, might be regarded as a potentially effective defense strategy of the human body against tumor growth.

Source: Medical Hypotheses - December 4, 2017 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: M.J. Wilson, J.J. Harlaar, J. Jeekel, M. Schipperus, J.J. Zwaginga Source Type: research