title: Molecular and metabolic features of oncocytomas: Seeking the blueprints of indolent cancers.
abstract: Oncocytic tumors are a peculiar subset of human neoplasms in which mitochondria have been proven to have a prominent role. A number of paradoxes render these clinical entities interesting from the translational research point of view. Most oncocytic tumors are generally metabolically constrained due to the impaired respiratory capacity and lack of the ability to respond to hypoxia, yet they maintain features that allow them to strive and persist in an indolent form. Their unique molecular and metabolic characteristics are an object of investigation that may reveal novel ways for therapeutic strategies based on metabolic targeting. With this aim in mind, we here examine the current knowledge on oncocytomas and delve into the molecular causes and consequences that revolve around the oncocytic phenotype, to understand whether we can learn to design therapies from the dissection of benign neoplasms. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Mitochondria in Cancer, edited by Giuseppe Gasparre, Rodrigue Rossignol and Pierre Sonveaux.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-DIMEC, Unit of Medical Genetics, University Hospital S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Luise
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-DIMEC, Unit of Medical Genetics, University Hospital S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girolimetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-DIMEC, Unit of Medical Genetics, University Hospital S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Okere
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology-FABIT, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Industrial Research Center on Health Sciences & Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Porcelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-DIMEC, Unit of Medical Genetics, University Hospital S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy; Tumour-Host Interaction Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK. Electronic address: ivana_kurelac@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurelac
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences-DIMEC, Unit of Medical Genetics, University Hospital S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasparre
mesh_terms: D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D001678:Organelle Biogenesis; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I
keywords: Autophagy; Mitochondrial DNA mutations; Mitochondrial biogenesis; Mitophagy; Oncocytic tumors; Respiratory complex I