Mutagenesis, tumorigenicity, and apoptosis: are the mitochondria involved?

Early studies have shown mitochondrially-mediated oxidative phosphorylation is diminished in cancer cells, with glycolysis being the main source of energy production. More recent provocative reports have indicated that the mitochondria may be involved in a host of different aspects of tumorigenesis, including mutagenesis, maintenance of the malignant phenotype, and control of apoptosis. These studies have broadened the possible roles mitochondria may play in malignancy. Further studies to define the importance of mitochondria should revolve around the functional assessment of these changes in vitro and in vivo, and will be interesting for determining their significance in human cancer.