Mitochondria and Cancer

Abstract

Mitochondria are bioenergetic, biosynthetic and signaling organelles that are integral in stress sensing to allow for cellular adaptation to the environment. Therefore, it is not surprising that mitochondria are important mediators of tumorigenesis, as this process requires flexibility to adapt to cellular and environmental alterations in addition to cancer treatments. Multiple aspects of mitochondrial biology beyond bioenergetics support transformation including mitochondrial biogenesis and turnover, fission and fusion dynamics, cell death susceptibility, oxidative stress regulation, metabolism, and signaling. Thus, understanding mechanisms of mitochondrial misregulation during tumorigenesis will be critical for the next generation of cancer therapeutics.

Dual Role of Mitophagy in Cancer Drug Resistance

“…Mitochondria are crucial organelles for energy metabolism, regulation of cell signaling and apoptosis in mammalian cells (9). In order to maintain cellular homeostasis, the cell has evolved complex systems for the quality control of mitochondria.…”

Cancer, Oxidative Stress, and Metastasis

“…The metabolic plasticity of cancer cells allows them to undergo dynamic changes in mitochondrial mass and mitochondrial function that facilitate their ability to cope with energy stress and oxidative stress (Senft and Ronai 2016;Vyas et al 2016). Both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation can be used in cancer cells in complementary strategies to enhance metabolic plasticity to overcome changes in the tumor environment or in energy demands (Jose et al 2011).…”

Bio-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Different Plant Extracts as Anti-Cancer Agent

“…Signal generated by mitochondria have an important role in apoptosis and many regulators of apoptosis can induce the inhibition of the integrity of mitochondria during the apoptosis process [37]. Usually the caspas pathway is activated due to the oxidative stress caused by the release of cytochrome c from the intermembrane space of the mitochondria into the cytosol [38].…”