title: Targeting malignant mitochondria with therapeutic peptides.
abstract: The current status of peptides that target the mitochondria in the context of cancer is the focus of this review. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy used to kill tumor cells are principally mediated by the process of apoptosis that is governed by the mitochondria. The failure of anticancer therapy often resides at the level of the mitochondria. Therefore, the mitochondrion is a key pharmacological target in cancer due to many of the differences that arise between malignant and healthy cells at the level of this ubiquitous organelle. Additionally, targeting the characteristics of malignant mitochondira often rely on disruption of protein--protein interactions that are not generally amenable to small molecules. We discuss anticancer peptides that intersect with pathological changes in the mitochondrion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Constance
authors.forename: Carol S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010455:Peptides