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Targeting Mitochondria: A Powerhouse Approach to Cancer Treatment

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Multi-Targeted Approach to Treatment of Cancer

Abstract

The central role that mitochondria play in cancer progression was highlighted by Otto Warburg in 1920s. He inferred that malignant cells synthesise ATP by metabolising glucose predominantly through glycolytic pathway rather than more efficient process of oxidative phosphorylation He proposed that such glycolytic ATP production is a universal property of malignant cells and that an impaired mitochondrial metabolism is a key event in development of carcinogenesis. More recent studies have revealed that in addition to their role in energy metabolism, mitochondria are also crucial regulator of apoptosis, a fundamental cellular function by which cells die in a well-controlled or programmed manner. Evasion of apoptosis is an important hallmark of cancer cell and a major cause of treatment failure. Therefore, targeting mitochondria is considered a promising strategy as it not only would affect the energy-dependent cell survival but also initiates the apoptotic pathway. This chapter would focus on the altered mitochondrial bioenergetics in tumour cells and their therapeutic implications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Punjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India

    Navneet Agnihotri, Isha Rani & Sandeep Kumar

Authors
  1. Navneet Agnihotri
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  2. Isha Rani
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  3. Sandeep Kumar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Navneet Agnihotri .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Varsha Gandhi

  2. Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Kapil Mehta

  3. Delhi State Cancer Institute (East), Delhi, India

    Rajesh Grover

  4. Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Sen Pathak

  5. Department of Bioimmunotherapy, Section of Cytokine Research, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    Bharat B. Aggarwal

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Agnihotri, N., Rani, I., Kumar, S. (2015). Targeting Mitochondria: A Powerhouse Approach to Cancer Treatment. In: Gandhi, V., Mehta, K., Grover, R., Pathak, S., Aggarwal, B. (eds) Multi-Targeted Approach to Treatment of Cancer. Adis, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12253-3_16

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