Abstract
Simple SummaryCancer is a major cause of human mortality worldwide. No life on earth can live without iron. Persistent oxidative stress resulting from continuous use of iron and oxygen may be a fundamental cause of carcinogenesis. Many animal models demonstrated that excess iron may lead to carcinogenesis. This is supported by a variety of human epidemiological data on cancer risk and prognosis. Cancer is basically a disease of the genome with persistently activated oncogenes and inactivated tumor suppressor genes through which iron addiction with ferroptosis-resistance is established. We predict that fine use of nanomaterials and non-thermal plasma may be able to reverse this situation.Evolution from the first life on earth to humans took ~3.8 billion years. During the time there have been countless struggles among the species. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was the last major uncontrollable species against the human public health worldwide. After the victory with antibiotics, cancer has become the leading cause of death since 1981 in Japan. Considering that life inevitably depends on ceaseless electron transfers through iron and oxygen, we believe that carcinogenesis is intrinsically unavoidable side effects of using iron and oxygen. Many animal models unequivocally revealed that excess iron is a risk for carcinogenesis. This is supported by a variety of human epidemiological data on cancer risk and prognosis. Cancer is basically a disease of the genome with persistently activated oncogenes and inactivated tumor suppressor genes through which iron addiction with ferroptosis-resistance is maintained. Engineering has made a great advance in the past 50 years. In particular, nanotechnology is distinct in that the size of the engineered molecules is similar to that of our biomolecules. While some nano-molecules are found carcinogenic, there are principles to avoid such carcinogenicity with a smart possibility to use nano-molecules to specifically kill cancer cells. Non-thermal plasma is another modality to fight against cancer.
Highlights
Space started to expand through the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago (Gya) [1] and Earth came into existence 4.6 Gya [2]
After briefly reviewing the molecular mechanisms associated with iron metabolisms, there are three independent lines of evidence available for the association of excess iron and carcinogenesis, (1) human observational data, either in specific diseases or in more broad population, (2) human interventional data, and (3) animal experiments
After briefly reviewing the molecular mechanisms associated with iron metabolisms, there are three independent lines of evidence available for the association of excess iron and carcinogenesis, (1) human observational data, either in specific Findings diseases or in more broad population, (2) human
Summary
Space started to expand through the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago (Gya) [1] and Earth came into existence 4.6 Gya [2]. Evolution from the first life on Earth to humans took ~3.8 Gy [3]. Symbiosis of all the species on Earth is generally established in equilibrium currently, except for a fraction of endangered or extinct species, such as dinosaurs [5]. There have been countless intense struggles among the species, which humans may sometimes call infection. Thereafter, in Japan, cancer has been the leading cause of death since 1981 Nearly one third of the population dies from cancer in high-income countries worldwide (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death). We should not forget that the major causes of death in low-income countries are still various infections. Both cancer incidence and progression of atherosclerosis are proportionally age-dependent. We consider the molecular cause of cancer from the highest global point of view, and discuss the biological significance of nanomaterials and provide a perspective on the novel procedures to counteract cancer
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