Modica-Napolitano Josephine S, Kulawiec Mariola, Singh Keshav K
Department of Cancer Genetics, BLSC Room L3-316, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
Curr Mol Med. 2007 Feb;7(1):121-31. doi: 10.2174/156652407779940495.
The better part of a century has passed since Otto Warburg first hypothesized that unique phenotypic characteristics of tumor cells might be associated with an impairment in the respiratory capacity of these cells. Since then a number of distinct differences between the mitochondria of normal cells and cancer cells have been observed at the genetic, molecular, and biochemical levels. This article begins with a general overview of mitochondrial structure and function, and then outlines more specifically the metabolic and molecular alterations in mitochondria associated with human cancer and their clinical implications. Special emphasis is placed on mtDNA mutations and their potential role in carcinogenesis. The potential use of mitochondria as biomarkers for early detection of cancer, or as unique cellular targets for novel and selective anti-cancer agents is also discussed.
自奥托·瓦尔堡首次提出肿瘤细胞的独特表型特征可能与这些细胞呼吸能力受损有关以来，已经过去了大半个世纪。从那时起，在遗传、分子和生化水平上观察到了正常细胞和癌细胞线粒体之间的一些明显差异。本文首先对线粒体的结构和功能进行了总体概述，然后更具体地概述了与人类癌症相关的线粒体代谢和分子改变及其临床意义。特别强调了线粒体DNA突变及其在致癌作用中的潜在作用。还讨论了线粒体作为癌症早期检测生物标志物或作为新型和选择性抗癌药物独特细胞靶点的潜在用途。
