Research report 2019 - Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing
Rewiring of mitochondria in cancer
Authors
MacVicar, Thomas; Langer, Thomas
Departments
Abteilung Mitochondrial Proteostasis in Ageing
Summary
Many cancers reprogram cellular metabolism in order to sustain tumour growth. Mitochondria are essential organelles which provide cancer cells with the metabolic flexibility required in challenging environmental conditions. Our recent work has revealed that tumour cells growing in low oxygen or nutrient deprived conditions are able to rewire their mitochondria by degrading specific mitochondrial proteins. We propose that analyzing this mechanism will provide therapeutic targets in hard-to-treat tumours such as pancreatic cancer.