It has been reported that curcumin possesses iron chelation ability(15) and reduces iron in mice and rats.(16) Moreover, its application as a suppressor of oxidative stress has been proposed.(15) Although NUPR1 upregulation was an upstream effect of the DFO treatment, it was maintained after cell treatment with 10 μM DFO for 48 h.(12) NUPR1 is thought to be involved in chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells and is induced by environmental stresses such as nutrient starvation and hypoxia. This evidence concerns the gene NUPR1 and cancer.