The role of mitochondrial dynamics in human cancers

Yawen Ma; Lihua Wang; Renbing Jia

The role of mitochondrial dynamics in human cancers

Am J Cancer Res. 2020 May 1;10(5):1278-1293. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Yawen Ma^{1

2}, Lihua Wang^{1

2}, Renbing Jia^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai, China.
² Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology Shanghai, China.

PMID: 32509379
PMCID: PMC7269774

Abstract

Mitochondria are crucial cellular organelles. Under extracellular stimulations, mitochondria undergo constant fusion and fission dynamics to meet different cellular demands. Mitochondrial dynamics is regulated by specialized proteins and lipids. Dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics has been linked to the initiation and progression of diverse human cancers, affecting aspects such as cancer metastasis, drug resistance and cancer stem cell survival, suggesting that targeting mitochondrial dynamics is a potential therapeutic strategy. In the present review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying fusion and fission dynamics and discuss the effects of mitochondrial dynamics on the development of human cancers.

Keywords: Mitochondrial dynamics; cancer stem cells; human cancers; lipids.

Publication types

Review