Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Transmitochondrial Cybrid Generation Using Cancer Cell Lines
07:49

Transmitochondrial Cybrid Generation Using Cancer Cell Lines

Published on: March 17, 2023

Cancer morphogenesis: role of mitochondrial failure

Egil Fosslien1

  • 1Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. efosslie@uic.edu

Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science
|November 8, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Mitochondrial dysfunction and altered cell metabolism, driven by faulty signaling and inflammation, can cause cancer morphogenesis. Restoring mitochondrial function may reverse cancer and restore normal tissue structure.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Normal cell metabolism relies on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production.
  • OXPHOS failure shifts metabolism to glycolysis (Warburg effect), a hallmark of cancer.
  • Morphogenesis, both in development and cancer, is regulated by morphogenetic fields and morphogen gradients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer morphogenesis.
  • To elucidate how aberrant morphogen gradient signaling and inflammatory mediators impact OXPHOS and drive cancer.
  • To explore the potential of restoring OXPHOS to reverse cancer and normalize tissue morphology.

Main Methods:

  • Examining the regulation of morphogenetic fields and morphogen gradients (e.g., TGF-beta) in tissue development and cancer.
  • Investigating the modulation of mitochondrial OXPHOS by signaling pathways, including TGF-beta, COX-2, and prostaglandin E2.
  • Analyzing the impact of altered ATP supply due to mitochondrial dysfunction on cell proliferation and tissue structure.

Main Results:

  • Morphogen gradients, like TGF-beta, regulate tissue curvature by modulating mitochondrial ATP generation.
  • Dysregulation of morphogen control over mitochondrial ATP synthesis leads to abnormal cell proliferation and cancer morphogenesis.
  • Inflammation, mediated by COX-2, contributes to carcinogenesis through morphogen signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Mitochondrial dysfunction and aberrant morphogen signaling are key drivers of cancer morphogenesis.
  • Restoring OXPHOS function can reverse cancer-induced morphological changes and restore normal tissue architecture.
  • Reducing exposure to environmental mitochondrial toxins may lower cancer risk.

More Related Videos

Imaging and Quantifying Mitochondrial Morphology in C. elegans During Aging05:29

Imaging and Quantifying Mitochondrial Morphology in C. elegans During Aging

Published on: January 17, 2025

Assessment of Mitochondrial Fission/Fusion Dynamics in Kidney Proximal Tubular Cells06:14

Assessment of Mitochondrial Fission/Fusion Dynamics in Kidney Proximal Tubular Cells

Published on: November 14, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Mitochondria01:37

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II01:46

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Mitochondrial Membranes01:45

Mitochondrial Membranes

A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...
Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell02:21

Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell

Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...