Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine

 


Review Article

Mitochondria as targets for detection and treatment of cancer

Josephine S. Modica-Napolitano a1 and Keshav Singh a2c1
a1 Department of Biology, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA 01845, USA.
a2 Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Bunting-Blaustein Cancer Research Building, 1650 Orleans St, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.

Abstract

Mitochondria are dynamic intracellular organelles that play a central role in oxidative metabolism and apoptosis. The recent resurgence of interest in the study of mitochondria has been fuelled in large part by the recognition that genetic and/or metabolic alterations in this organelle are causative or contributing factors in a variety of human diseases including cancer. Several distinct differences between the mitochondria of normal cells and cancer cells have already been observed at the genetic, molecular and biochemical levels. As reviewed in this article, certain of these alterations in mitochondrial structure and function might prove clinically useful either as markers for the early detection of cancer or as unique molecular sites against which novel and selective chemotherapeutic agents might be targeted.


Key Words: Mitochondria; cancer; anti-cancer therapy; detection; treatment; cancer; therapy.

Correspondence:
c1 Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Bunting-Blaustein Cancer Research Building, 1650 Orleans St, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA. Tel: +1 410 614 5128; Fax: +1 410 502 7234/7244; E-mail: singhke@jhmi.edu