Targeted mitochondrial metabolism for anti-tumor therapy

Cancer has become a focal point of concern owing to its escalating incidence and mortality rates. However, traditional treatment modalities are encumbered by inherent constraints, posing ongoing challenges in achieving definitive cancer eradication. Mitochondria, crucial for cellular growth and physiological homeostasis, manifest distinctive structural and metabolic alterations within cancerous cells compared to their normal counterparts. Targeting aberrant mitochondrial metabolism in tumor cells has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy, capitalizing on the precision, efficacy, and minimal adverse effects associated with targeted therapeutic approaches. However, due to the complexity of tumor cells, the specific mechanism underlying the role of mitochondria in tumor development and new anti-tumor drugs targeting mitochondrial metabolism still need to be further studied. This review focuses on studies that target mitochondrial DNA, oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial energy metabolism, and amino acid metabolism in tumor cells, elucidating the methods involved in targeting mitochondrial metabolism and underscoring the significance of future studies in developing therapies targeting mitochondrial metabolism for cancer treatment.