Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2025
09:13
Sensitive Measurement of Mitophagy by Flow Cytometry Using the pH-dependent Fluorescent Reporter mt-Keima
Published on: August 12, 2018
14.9K
Natural compounds modulating mitophagy: Implications for cancer therapy
Min Cao1, Yancheng Tang2, Yufei Luo1
1School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Molecular Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan Province, China.
Cancer Letters
|December 14, 2023
Summary
Natural compounds targeting mitophagy, a key cellular process for degrading damaged mitochondria, show promise for improving cancer therapy by overcoming drug resistance and side effects.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality with increasing global incidence.
- Chemotherapy's efficacy is hampered by drug resistance and severe side effects.
- Mitophagy, the selective degradation of damaged mitochondria, is crucial for cellular homeostasis and implicated in cancer development and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review mitophagy signaling pathways.
- To examine the role of natural compounds in modulating mitophagy for cancer therapy.
- To address challenges and opportunities in developing mitophagy-based cancer treatments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of mitophagy pathways and their role in cancer.
- Analysis of studies on natural compounds affecting mitophagy and cancer cell death.
- Discussion of current research limitations and future directions.
Main Results:
- Mitophagy plays a context-dependent dual role in cancer, potentially inhibiting or promoting tumor growth.
- Natural compounds can modulate mitophagy, exhibiting anticancer properties.
- Evidence suggests potential for natural compounds in cancer therapy via mitophagy modulation.
Conclusions:
- Mitophagy modulation by natural compounds offers a promising avenue for novel cancer therapeutics.
- Further research is needed to overcome limitations and develop effective mitophagy-based strategies.
- Targeting mitophagy presents opportunities for innovative cancer treatment interventions.
Related Concept Videos
01:46Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
13.8K
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...
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
13.8K
01:15Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
2.1K
Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.1K
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
6.5K
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
6.5K
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
7.6K
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.6K
02:49Cancer Therapies
7.7K
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
7.7K
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
4.9K
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
4.9K