Title:Targeting Mitochondria through the Use of Mitocans as Emerging Anticancer Agents
Volume: 27
Issue: 34
Author(s): Ioana Macasoi, Alexandra Mioc, Marius Mioc*, Roxana Racoviceanu, Irina Soica, Adelina Chevereșan, Cristina Dehelean and Victor Dumitrașcu
Affiliation:
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu, Timisoara,Romania
Keywords:
Mithocondria, cancer, mitocans, electron transport chain, hexokinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase,
lactate dehydrogenase, Bcl-2.
Abstract: Mitochondria are key players with a multi-functional role in many vital cellular processes,
such as energy metabolism, redox regulation, calcium homeostasis, Reactive Oxygen Species
(ROS) as well as in cell signaling, survival and apoptosis. These functions are mainly regulated
through important enzyme signaling cascades, which if altered may influence the outcome of cell
viability and apoptosis. Therefore some of the key enzymes that are vital for these signaling pathways
are emerging as important targets for new anticancer agent development. Mitocans are compounds
aimed at targeting mitochondria in cancer cells by altering mitochondrial functions thus
causing cell growth inhibition or apoptosis. This review summarizes the till present known classes
of mitocans, their mechanism of action and potential therapeutic use in different forms of cancer.