It is through food that these two naturally occurring metals would increase the size of tumors.
The study conducted in France by Dr Raphaël Rodriguez with researchers from the Institut Curie, the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), was presented at the annual Chicago Cancer Conference, which was particularly prolific in terms of hope.
And the results suggest that the iron and copper play a role in the development of tumors and metastases.
Raphaël Rodrigueza first reminded franceinfo that in the human body, we find not only iron and copper, but also nickel, calcium, magnesium or zinc. We know this because we can experience a deficiency of one or more of them.
He adds about them:
These trace elements in the broad sense of the term are provided by food. VSThey are kind of the poor relations of biology because metals are harder to study than proteins or nucleic acids. A metal is much smaller than a DNA molecule or a protein.
The role of iron and copper
That being said, what have the French researchers discovered? To put it very simply, the two metals and the chemical interactions that involve them have a negative effect on the development of cancer.
The chemist does not hide his surprise:
This increases the size of the tumor, the ability of cells to form metastases. It’s hard to believe it ourselves, it’s brand new.
Should the intake be reduced?
The question that arises from this observation is obvious: should the intake of these two minerals be reduced for cancer patients? The specialist wants to be measured:
No longer giving iron is complicated because we need it for the body’s vital functions, but there is a way to give it (…) And then, there are certain molecules that exist in the clinic to other treatments, other diseases like metformin which is used for type 2 diabetes, which can have an anti-inflammatory effect and an anti-metastatic effect.
Now, Dr. Rodriguez plans to continue similar research with nickel, zinc to name a few.