title: Targeting mitochondria in fighting cancer.
abstract: During the last years, there have been a number of reports that prove involvement of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of variety of disorders including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Alteration of vital mitochondrial functions - production of ATP, calcium buffering capacity, abnormal production of reactive oxygen species, can be potentially responsible for pathogenesis of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Involvement of mitochondria in various types of cell death makes them attractive targets for tumor cell elimination. This review describes the role of mitochondria in tumor cells and how targeting of mitochondria can be used as a tool in fighting cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Vladimir.Gogvadze@ki.se
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gogvadze
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010539:Permeability; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D033681:Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins; D000083162:Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species