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Updated: Nov 26, 2025

Author Spotlight: Transmitochondrial Cybrid Generation Using Cancer Cell Lines
Published on: March 17, 2023
Dynamic Changes of Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number in Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers: A Systematic Review and
Mehdi Alikhani1, Eliette Touati2, Morteza Karimipoor3
1HPGC Research Group, Medical Biotechnology Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:
We have performed a systematic review and meta-analysis for evaluation of mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) alterations in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL), and tumor tissues of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancers. Analysis of the PBL demonstrated a significant decrease [OR: 0.6 (0.5, 0.8)] and increase [OR: 1.4 (1.1, 1.9)] prior to and following GIT cancer development, respectively. This trend was more evident in CRC, and GC subgroups. Analysis of tissue yielded high levels of heterogeneity. However, the mean difference for the CRC subgroup was statistically significant [1.5 (1.0, 2.2)]. Our analysis suggests mtDNA-CN deserves further investigations as a GIT-cancer screening tool.
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