Mitochondria as a Therapeutic Target for Anti-cancer Drugs
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 149
Special Issue Editor
Interests: protective and toxic mechanisms of bioactive compounds; ischemia; anoxia; stress conditions; cellular energy turnover; mitochondrial functions; ion channels; computer modeling in drug discovery
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cancer is a complex and diverse disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and a malfunctioning cell cycle, leading to the proliferation of abnormal cells that can invade and spread to other parts of the body. Internally, cancer can be triggered by oxidative stress, a failure of the apoptotic process, genetic mutations and hypoxia. Externally, factors such as excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays, radiation, pollution, smoking and stress significantly contribute to cancer development. Cancer cells exhibit key characteristics such as altered metabolism, impaired cell cycle, frequent mutations, resistance to immune response, chronic inflammation, formation of metastasis and induction of angiogenesis. Recent research indicates that cancer is fundamentally a metabolic disease, driven by various degrees of mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic alterations.
Mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, play essential roles in providing cellular energy, regulating metabolism, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and signaling for cell death. In cancer cells, several metabolic alterations are evident, such as increased aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect), deregulated pH levels, impaired lipid metabolism, increased ROS production and compromised enzyme activities. These metabolic changes lead to an acidic extracellular environment, which promotes inflammation and creates conditions favorable for cancer progression. Furthermore, cancer cells exhibit increased glutamine-driven lipid biosynthesis, which upregulates pathways involved in the initiation of tumorigenesis and metastasis. The decrease in cardiolipin levels within the membranes of cancer cells impairs enzyme activities crucial for normal cellular functions. Additionally, hyperpolarized mitochondria are associated with the malignancy and aggressiveness of cancer cells, correlating with their invasive capabilities.
Investigations of the complex metabolic and cellular changes in cancer cell mitochondria could help understand the progression of carcinogenesis and reveal potential pathways for targeted therapies designed to disrupt these processes and suppress cancer growth.
Dr. Dalia Marija Kopustinskiene
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- mitochondria
- cancer
- apoptosis
- oxidative phosphorylation
- Warburg effect
- cardiolipin
- inflammation
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