Cancer - The mitochondrial connection

Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell. They play a vital role in the energy metabolism and regulate calcium flux and apoptosis. The recent resurgence of interest in mitochondrial studies is largely attributed to the recognition that mitochondrial dysfunctions lead to various physiopathological disorders, especially in the development and progression of cancer. Mitochondrial DNA is very susceptible to mutations, which lead to respiratory dysfunction and are implicated in many cancers. Mitochondria serve as the molecular target for a structurally diverse group of pharmacological agents in cancer chemotherapy. Biochemical and biophysical characterization have helped to identify several important differences between mitochondria of normal and disease state. Such unique alterations in mitochondrial structure and function could become promising target for the development of new generation drugs.