SIGNIFICANCE: Mitochondria are emerging as highly intriguing organelles showing promise but that are yet to be fully exploited as targets for anticancer drugs. RECENT ADVANCES: A group of compounds that induce mitochondrial destabilization, thereby affecting the physiology of cancer cells, has been defined and termed 'mitocans.' Based on their mode of action of targeting in and around mitochondria, we have placed these agents into several groups including hexokinase inhibitors, compounds targeting Bcl-2 family proteins, thiol redox inhibitors, VDAC/ANT targeting drugs, electron transport chain-targeting drugs, lipophilic cations targeting the inner membrane, agents affecting the tricarboxylic acid cycle, drugs targeting mtDNA, and agents targeting other presently unknown sites. CRITICAL ISSUES: Mitocans have a potential to prove highly efficient in suppressing various malignant diseases in a selective manner. They include compounds that are currently in clinical trial and offer substantial promise to become clinically applied drugs. Here we update and redefine the individual classes of mitocans, providing examples of the various members of these groups with a particular focus on agents targeting the electron transport chain, and indicate their potential application in clinical practice. FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Even though reactive oxygen species induction is important for the anticancer activity of many mitocans, the precise sequence of events preceding and following this pivotal event are not yet fully clarified, and warrant further investigation. This is imperative for effective deployment of these compounds in the clinic.

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky klasifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• cílená molekulární terapie MeSH
• elektronový transportní řetězec metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• nádory farmakoterapie   metabolismus   MeSH
• transport elektronů účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

The mitochondrial respiratory chain is organized into dynamic high molecular weight complexes that associate to form supercomplexes. The function of these SCs is to minimize the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during electron transfer within them and to efficiently transfer electrons to complex IV. These supra-molecular structures as well as whole mitochondria are stress-responsive and respond to mitochondrially targeted anti-cancer agent by destabilization and induction of massive production of ROS leading to apoptosis. We have recently developed mitochondrially targeted anti-cancer agents epitomized by the mitochondrially targeted analogue of the redox-silent compound vitamin E succinate, which belongs to the group of agents that kill cancer cells via their mitochondria-destabilizing activity, referred to as mitocans. To understand the molecular mechanism of the effect of such agents, the use of native blue gel electrophoresis and clear native electrophoresis coupled with in-gel activity assays, are methods of choice. The relevant methodology is described in this chapter.

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky farmakologie   MeSH
• elektronový transportní řetězec antagonisté a inhibitory   MeSH
• frakcionace buněk MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondriální proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• transport elektronů účinky léků   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Mitochondria are essential cellular organelles, controlling multiple signalling pathways critical for cell survival and cell death. Increasing evidence suggests that mitochondrial metabolism and functions are indispensable in tumorigenesis and cancer progression, rendering mitochondria and mitochondrial functions as plausible targets for anti-cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarised the major strategies of selective targeting of mitochondria and their functions to combat cancer, including targeting mitochondrial metabolism, the electron transport chain and tricarboxylic acid cycle, mitochondrial redox signalling pathways, and ROS homeostasis. We highlight that delivering anti-cancer drugs into mitochondria exhibits enormous potential for future cancer therapeutic strategies, with a great advantage of potentially overcoming drug resistance. Mitocans, exemplified by mitochondrially targeted vitamin E succinate and tamoxifen (MitoTam), selectively target cancer cell mitochondria and efficiently kill multiple types of cancer cells by disrupting mitochondrial function, with MitoTam currently undergoing a clinical trial.

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• chemorezistence účinky léků   MeSH
• cílená molekulární terapie MeSH
• citrátový cyklus účinky léků   MeSH
• elektronový transportní řetězec účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• klinické zkoušky jako téma MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• nádory farmakoterapie   metabolismus   MeSH
• oxidace-redukce účinky léků   MeSH
• progrese nemoci MeSH
• regulace genové exprese u nádorů účinky léků   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

With the arrival of the third millennium, in spite of unprecedented progress in molecular medicine, cancer remains as untamed as ever. The complexity of tumours, dictating the potential response of cancer cells to anti-cancer agents, has been recently highlighted in a landmark paper by Weinberg and Hanahan on hallmarks of cancer [1]. Together with the recently published papers on the complexity of tumours in patients and even within the same tumour (see below), the cure for this pathology seems to be an elusive goal. Indisputably, the strategy ought to be changed, searching for targets that are generally invariant across the landscape of neoplastic diseases. One such target appears to be the mitochondrial complex II (CII) of the electron transfer chain, a recent focus of research. We document and highlight this particularly intriguing target in this review paper and give examples of drugs that use CII as their molecular target. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Respiratory complex II: Role in cellular physiology and disease.

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky chemie   klasifikace   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• nádory farmakoterapie   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• respirační komplex II antagonisté a inhibitory   metabolismus   MeSH
• transport elektronů účinky léků   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

A significant part of current research studies utilizes various cellular models which imply specific antibiotics-containing media as well as antibiotics used for clonal selection or promoter de/activation. With the great success of developing such tools, mitochondria, once originated from bacteria, can be effectively targeted by antibiotics. For that reason, some studies propose antibiotics-targeting of mitochondria as part of anticancer therapy. Here, we have focused on the effects of various classes of antibiotics on mitochondria in cancer and non-cancer cells and demonlow mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced ATP production, altered morphology and lowered respiration rate which altogether suggested mitochondrial dysfunction (MDF). This was in parallel with increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased activity of mitochondrial respiration complexes. However, both survival and repopulation capacity of cancer cells was not significantly affected by the antibiotics, perhaps due to a glycolytic shift or activated autophagy. In turn, simultaneous inhibition of autophagy and treatment with antibiotics largely reduced tumorigenic properties of cancer cells suggesting potential strategy for anticancer therapy.

• MeSH
• adenin analogy a deriváty   farmakologie   MeSH
• adenosintrifosfát metabolismus   MeSH
• antibakteriální látky farmakologie   MeSH
• autofagie účinky léků   MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• elektronový transportní řetězec metabolismus   MeSH
• energetický metabolismus účinky léků   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• mitofagie účinky léků   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory prsu farmakoterapie   genetika   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• proliferace buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• proteiny asociované s mikrotubuly genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• protokoly antitumorózní kombinované chemoterapie farmakologie   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• synergismus léků MeSH
• transfekce MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The mitochondrion has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for novel cancer treatments because of its essential role in tumorigenesis and resistance to chemotherapy. Previously, we described a natural compound, 10-((2,5-dihydroxybenzoyl)oxy)decyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide (GA-TPP+C10), with a hydroquinone scaffold that selectively targets the mitochondria of breast cancer (BC) cells by binding to the triphenylphosphonium group as a chemical chaperone; however, the mechanism of action remains unclear. In this work, we showed that GA-TPP+C10 causes time-dependent complex inhibition of the mitochondrial bioenergetics of BC cells, characterized by (1) an initial phase of mitochondrial uptake with an uncoupling effect of oxidative phosphorylation, as previously reported, (2) inhibition of Complex I-dependent respiration, and (3) a late phase of mitochondrial accumulation with inhibition of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (αKGDHC) activity. These events led to cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and cell death at 24 and 48 h of exposure, and the cells were rescued by the addition of the cell-penetrating metabolic intermediates l-aspartic acid β-methyl ester (mAsp) and dimethyl α-ketoglutarate (dm-KG). In addition, this unexpected blocking of mitochondrial function triggered metabolic remodeling toward glycolysis, AMPK activation, increased expression of proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (pgc1α) and electron transport chain (ETC) component-related genes encoded by mitochondrial DNA and downregulation of the uncoupling proteins ucp3 and ucp4, suggesting an AMPK-dependent prosurvival adaptive response in cancer cells. Consistent with this finding, we showed that inhibition of mitochondrial translation with doxycycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic that inhibits the 28 S subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome, in the presence of GA-TPP+C10 significantly reduces the mt-CO1 and VDAC protein levels and the FCCP-stimulated maximal electron flux and promotes selective and synergistic cytotoxic effects on BC cells at 24 h of treatment. Based on our results, we propose that this combined strategy based on blockage of the adaptive response induced by mitochondrial bioenergetic inhibition may have therapeutic relevance in BC.

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky farmakologie   MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• doxycyklin farmakologie   MeSH
• gentisáty chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• heterocyklické sloučeniny chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• ketoglutarátdehydrogenasový komplex antagonisté a inhibitory   genetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   patologie   MeSH
• nádory prsu farmakoterapie   genetika   patologie   MeSH
• organofosforové sloučeniny chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• oxidativní fosforylace účinky léků   MeSH
• proliferace buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• proteinkinasy genetika   MeSH
• proteosyntéza účinky léků   MeSH
• ribozomy účinky léků   MeSH
• synergismus léků MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Purpose: Cluster I pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PCPGs) tend to develop malignant transformation, tumor recurrence, and multiplicity. Transcriptomic profiling suggests that cluster I PCPGs and other related tumors exhibit distinctive changes in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, the hypoxia signaling pathway, mitochondrial electron transport chain, and methylation status, suggesting that therapeutic regimen might be optimized by targeting these signature molecular pathways.Experimental Design: In the present study, we investigated the molecular signatures in clinical specimens from cluster I PCPGs in comparison with cluster II PCPGs that are related to kinase signaling and often present as benign tumors.Results: We found that cluster I PCPGs develop a dependency to mitochondrial complex I, evidenced by the upregulation of complex I components and enhanced NADH dehydrogenation. Alteration in mitochondrial function resulted in strengthened NAD+ metabolism, here considered as a key mechanism of chemoresistance, particularly, of succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB)-mutated cluster I PCPGs via the PARP1/BER DNA repair pathway. Combining a PARP inhibitor with temozolomide, a conventional chemotherapeutic agent, not only improved cytotoxicity but also reduced metastatic lesions, with prolonged overall survival of mice with SDHB knockdown PCPG allograft.Conclusions: In summary, our findings provide novel insights into an effective strategy for targeting cluster I PCPGs, especially those with SDHB mutations. Clin Cancer Res; 24(14); 3423-32. ©2018 AACR.

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• apoptóza genetika   MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• buněčný cyklus genetika   MeSH
• chemorezistence genetika   MeSH
• cílená molekulární terapie MeSH
• feochromocytom farmakoterapie   genetika   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie metabolismus   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• myši MeSH
• NAD metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• oprava DNA * MeSH
• paragangliom farmakoterapie   genetika   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• PARP inhibitory farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• poly(ADP-ribosa)-polymerasy metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• sukcinátdehydrogenasa genetika   MeSH
• xenogenní modely - testy antitumorózní aktivity MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural MeSH

AIMS: Expression of the HER2 oncogene in breast cancer is associated with resistance to treatment, and Her2 may regulate bioenergetics. Therefore, we investigated whether disruption of the electron transport chain (ETC) is a viable strategy to eliminate Her2(high) disease. RESULTS: We demonstrate that Her2(high) cells and tumors have increased assembly of respiratory supercomplexes (SCs) and increased complex I-driven respiration in vitro and in vivo. They are also highly sensitive to MitoTam, a novel mitochondrial-targeted derivative of tamoxifen. Unlike tamoxifen, MitoTam efficiently suppresses experimental Her2(high) tumors without systemic toxicity. Mechanistically, MitoTam inhibits complex I-driven respiration and disrupts respiratory SCs in Her2(high) background in vitro and in vivo, leading to elevated reactive oxygen species production and cell death. Intriguingly, higher sensitivity of Her2(high) cells to MitoTam is dependent on the mitochondrial fraction of Her2. INNOVATION: Oncogenes such as HER2 can restructure ETC, creating a previously unrecognized therapeutic vulnerability exploitable by SC-disrupting agents such as MitoTam. CONCLUSION: We propose that the ETC is a suitable therapeutic target in Her2(high) disease. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 26, 84-103.

• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• buněčná smrt účinky léků   MeSH
• buněčné dýchání účinky léků   MeSH
• cílená molekulární terapie MeSH
• elektronový transportní řetězec antagonisté a inhibitory   chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• inhibiční koncentrace 50 MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární konformace MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory prsu farmakoterapie   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• receptor erbB-2 antagonisté a inhibitory   metabolismus   MeSH
• respirační komplex I antagonisté a inhibitory   chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• tamoxifen farmakologie   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, which is attributed to lack of effective treatment options and drug resistance. Mitochondrial inhibitors have emerged as a promising class of anticancer drugs, and several inhibitors of the electron transport chain (ETC) are being clinically evaluated. We hypothesized that resistance to ETC inhibitors from the biguanide class could be induced by inactivation of SMAD4, an important tumor suppressor involved in transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling, and associated with altered mitochondrial activity. Here we show that, paradoxically, both TGFβ-treatment and the loss of SMAD4, a downstream member of TGFβ signaling cascade, induce resistance to biguanides, decrease mitochondrial respiration, and fragment the mitochondrial network. Mechanistically, the resistance of SMAD4-deficient cells is mediated by increased mitophagic flux driven by MAPK/ERK signaling, whereas TGFβ-induced resistance is autophagy-independent and linked to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Interestingly, mitochondria-targeted tamoxifen, a complex I inhibitor under clinical trial, overcomes resistance mediated by SMAD4-deficiency or TGFβ signaling. Our data point to differential mechanisms underlying the resistance to treatment in PDAC arising from TGFβ signaling and SMAD4 loss, respectively. The findings will help the development of mitochondria-targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer patients with SMAD4 as a plausible predictive marker.

• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitofagie MeSH
• nádory slinivky břišní genetika   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• protein Smad4 metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Estrogen receptor alpha (ER) is a key biomarker for breast cancer, and the presence or absence of ER in breast and other hormone-dependent cancers decides treatment regimens and patient prognosis. ER is activated after ligand binding - typically by steroid. 2682 steroid compounds were used in a molecular docking study to identify novel ligands for ER and to predict compounds that may show anticancer activity. The effect of the most promising compounds was determined by a novel luciferase reporter assay. Two compounds, 7 and 12, showing ER inhibitory activity comparable to clinical inhibitors such as tamoxifen or fulvestrant were selected. We propose that the inhibitory effect of compounds 7 and 12 on ER is related to the presence of a double bond in their D-ring, which may protect against ER activation by reducing the electron density of the keto group, or may undergo metabolism leading to an active compound. Western blotting revealed that compound 12 decreased the level of ER in the breast cancer cell line MCF7, which was associated with reduced expression of both isoforms of the progesterone receptor, a well-known downstream target of ER. However, compound 12 has a different mechanism of action from fulvestrant. Furthermore, we found that compound 12 interferes with mitochondrial functions, probably by disrupting the electron transport chain, leading to induction of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway even in ER-negative breast cancer cells. In conclusion, the combination of computational and experimental methods shown here represents a rapid approach to determine the activity of compounds towards ER. Our data will not only contribute to research focused on the regulation of ER activity but may also be useful for the further development of novel steroid receptor-targeted drugs applicable in clinical practice.

• MeSH
• alfa receptor estrogenů genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• estradiol farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• estron * farmakologie   MeSH
• fulvestrant farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory prsu * farmakoterapie   metabolismus   MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny metabolismus   MeSH
• simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
• tamoxifen farmakologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH