Given its central role in iron metabolism, hepcidin represents a potential therapeutic target in cancer. Strategies to modulate hepcidin levels include:
Hepcidin antagonists: These agents can be used to lower hepcidin levels, thereby increasing iron availability to the bone marrow and alleviating anemia in cancer patients. Hepcidin mimetics: In cases where reducing iron availability to tumor cells is beneficial, hepcidin mimetics can be employed to increase hepcidin levels. Iron chelators: These compounds can sequester excess iron, potentially reducing tumor growth and improving the effectiveness of conventional cancer therapies.
