title: Mitochondrial defects in cancer.
abstract: Mitochondria play important roles in cellular energy metabolism, free radical generation, and apoptosis. Defects in mitochondrial function have long been suspected to contribute to the development and progression of cancer. In this review article, we aim to provide a brief summary of our current understanding of mitochondrial genetics and biology, review the mtDNA alterations reported in various types of cancer, and offer some perspective as to the emergence of mtDNA mutations, their functional consequences in cancer development, and therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. jcarew@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Carew
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial