Mitochondria: The metabolic switch of cellular oncogenic transformation

Yan Qin Tan; Xi Zhang; Shuwei Zhang; Tao Zhu; Manoj Garg; Peter E Lobie; Vijay Pandey

doi:10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188534

Mitochondria: The metabolic switch of cellular oncogenic transformation

Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. 2021 Aug;1876(1):188534. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188534. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Authors

Yan Qin Tan¹, Xi Zhang², Shuwei Zhang³, Tao Zhu⁴, Manoj Garg⁵, Peter E Lobie⁶, Vijay Pandey⁷

Affiliations

¹ Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China; Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China.
² Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China.
³ Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China.
⁴ Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230000, Anhui, PR China; The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230000, Anhui, PR China.
⁵ Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research (AIMMSCR), Amity University, Sector-125, Noida 201313, India.
⁶ Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China; Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China. Electronic address: pelobie@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn.
⁷ Tsinghua Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China; Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China. Electronic address: vijay.pandey@sz.tsinghua.edu.cn.

PMID: 33794332
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188534

Abstract

Mitochondria, well recognized as the "powerhouse" of cells, are maternally inherited organelles with bacterial ancestry that play essential roles in a myriad of cellular functions. It has become profoundly evident that mitochondria regulate a wide array of cellular and metabolic functions, including biosynthetic metabolism, cell signaling, redox homeostasis, and cell survival. Correspondingly, defects in normal mitochondrial functioning have been implicated in various human malignancies. Cancer development involves the activation of oncogenes, inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, and impairment of apoptotic programs in cells. Mitochondria have been recognized as the site of key metabolic switches for normal cells to acquire a malignant phenotype. This review outlines the role of mitochondria in human malignancies and highlights potential aspects of mitochondrial metabolism that could be targeted for therapeutic development.

Keywords: BCL-2 family; Cancer; Intrinsic apoptosis; Metabolic reprogramming; Mitochondria.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism*
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
Energy Metabolism* / drug effects
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Genes, Tumor Suppressor
Humans
Mitochondria / drug effects
Mitochondria / genetics
Mitochondria / metabolism*
Mitochondria / pathology
Neoplasms / drug therapy
Neoplasms / genetics
Neoplasms / metabolism*
Neoplasms / pathology
Oncogenes*
Signal Transduction

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents