Cancer cells divide rapidly, requiring large amounts of:
- DNA
- Energy
- Enzymes
Iron is essential for all three.
Iron as Tumor Fuel
- Increase transferrin receptor expression to import more iron
- Suppress iron-export proteins
- Accumulate intracellular iron
This phenomenon has been described as “iron addiction” in cancer cells.
Studies have shown elevated iron levels in:
- Liver cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Leukemia
This dependency makes iron metabolism an attractive therapeutic target.
Blood Characteristics and Cancer Risk
Interest in blood characteristics—including blood type—stems from epidemiological studies observing population-level trends.
Blood Types and Disease Susceptibility
ABO blood groups are determined by carbohydrate antigens on red blood cells and other tissues. These antigens influence:
- Inflammation
- Immune responses
- Cell adhesion
- Microbial interactions
Research has linked certain blood types to varying risks of:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Blood clotting disorders
- Infections
- Some cancers
However, it is crucial to emphasize:
Blood type does not cause cancer.
It may only modestly influence risk through biological pathways involving inflammation, immunity, and metabolism—including iron handling.
