Mitochondrial Respiration in and Mutated Colorectal Tumors and Polyps.

This study aimed to characterize the ATP-synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation in colorectal cancer (CRC) and premalignant colon polyps in relation to molecular biomarkers KRAS and BRAF. This prospective study included 48 patients. Resected colorectal polyps and postoperative CRC tissue with adjacent normal tissue (control) were collected. Patients with polyps and CRC were divided into three molecular groups: mutated, mutated and wild-type. Mitochondrial respiration in permeabilized tissue samples was observed using high resolution respirometry. ADP-activated respiration rate (V) and an apparent affinity of mitochondria to ADP, which is related to mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) permeability, were determined. Clear differences were present between molecular groups. mutated CRC group had lower V values compared to wild-type; however, the V value was higher than in the control group, while MOM permeability did not change. This suggests that mutation status might be involved in acquiring oxidative phenotype. mutated polyps had higher V values and elevated MOM permeability as compared to the control. mutated CRC and polyps had reduced respiration and altered MOM permeability, indicating a glycolytic phenotype. To conclude, prognostic biomarkers KRAS and BRAF are likely related to the metabolic phenotype in CRC and polyps. Assessment of the tumor mitochondrial ATP synthesis could be a potential component of patient risk stratification.