Iron and lung cancer.

Iron is an essential trace element in the human body, and its deficiency or excess induces diverse biological processes. Iron dysregulation is closely associated with the initiation and development of several malignant tumors, including lung cancer. Emerging evidence suggests a particularly important role for iron in lung cancer. Moreover, iron plays a prominent part in multiple forms of cell death, making it important for the development of potential strategies for lung cancer therapy. Here we review the function and characteristics of iron and new therapeutic opportunities in lung cancer.