Influence of low dietary iron and iron overload on urethan-induced lung tumors in mice

Weanling male CD-1 mice were fed low iron (7 ppm), control (120 ppm) and iron loaded diets (3000 or 5000 ppm) for 19 weeks. After seven weeks, the mice received 1.5 mg urethan/g ip, and tumor development was evaluated 12 weeks later. The low iron diet increased the incidence of lung adenomas by 86%. The iron loaded diets did not influence adenoma development. Tumor size was unaffected by iron status (p = 0.297). These results indicate that low iron body status promotes tumor development and are inconsistent with the hypothesis that excess iron promotes cancer growth and that low iron protects against tumor growth.