Tumour-initiating cells (TICs) play a pivotal role in cancer initiation, metastasis and recurrence, as well as in resistance to therapy. Therefore, development of drugs targeting TICs has become a focus of contemporary research. Mitochondria have emerged as a promising target of anti-cancer therapies due to their specific role in cancer metabolism and modulation of apoptotic pathways. Mitochondria of TICs possess special characteristics, some of which can be utilised to design drugs specifically targeting these cells. In this paper, we will review recent research on TICs and their mitochondria, and introduce drugs that kill these cells by way of mitochondrial targeting.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2015.12.007 | DOI Listing |
Nat Commun
January 2025
Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) displays a high degree of spatial subtype heterogeneity and co-existence, linked to a diverse microenvironment and worse clinical outcome. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, by combining preclinical models, multi-center clinical, transcriptomic, proteomic, and patient bioimaging data, we identify an interplay between neoplastic intrinsic AP1 transcription factor dichotomy and extrinsic macrophages driving subtype co-existence and an immunosuppressive microenvironment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biomed Mater Res A
January 2025
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is infamous for its aggressive phenotype and poorer prognosis when compared to other breast cancer subtypes. One factor contributing to this poor prognosis is that TNBC lacks expression of the receptors that available hormonal or molecular-oriented therapies attack. New treatments that exploit biological targets specific to TNBC are desperately needed to improve patient outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Biomed
January 2025
Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality globally and a major health burden, with chemotherapy often serving as the primary therapeutic option for patients with advanced-stage disease, partially compensating for the limitations of non-curative treatments. However, the emergence of chemotherapy resistance significantly limits its efficacy, posing a major clinical challenge. Moreover, heterogeneity of resistance mechanisms across cancer types complicates the development of universally effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomater Adv
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Theoretical Organic Chemistry and Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Controllable Preparation and Functional Application of Fine Polymers, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, PR China. Electronic address:
Chitosan is a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering, but its functionality is limited by a lack of bioactive sites. This study develops chitosan/amniotic membrane microcarriers to enhance vascularization and tissue regeneration for subcutaneous adipose tissue. The incorporation of decellularized amniotic membrane enhances the bioactivities of chitosan in promoting cell differentiation and angiogenesis.
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