The search for mitochondria-targeted drugs has dramatically risen over the last decade. Mitochondria are essential organelles serving not only as a powerhouse of the cell but also as a key player in cell proliferation and cell death. Their central role in the energetic metabolism, calcium homeostasis and apoptosis makes them an intriguing field of interest for cancer pharmacology. In cancer cells, many mitochondrial signaling and metabolic pathways are altered. These changes contribute to cancer development and progression. Due to changes in mitochondrial metabolism and changes in membrane potential, cancer cells are more susceptible to mitochondria-targeted therapy. The loss of functional mitochondria leads to the arrest of cancer progression and/or a cancer cell death. Identification of mitochondrial changes specific for tumor growth and progression, rational development of new mitochondria-targeted drugs and research on delivery agents led to the advance of this promising area. This review will highlight the current findings in mitochondrial biology, which are important for cancer initiation, progression and resistance, and discuss approaches of cancer pharmacology with a special focus on the anti-cancer drugs referred to as 'mitocans'.

Department of Paediatrics and Inherited Metabolic Disorders 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General University Hospital Prague CZ 121 08 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Botany Wroclaw Medical University 50556 Borowska 211 Poland

Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University Kamenice 5 CZ 625 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Urology St Anne's Faculty Hospital CZ 65691 Brno Czech Republic

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