Targeting cancer stem cells with antibiotics inducing mitochondrial dysfunction as an alternative anticancer therapy

Traditional cancer treatments based on chemo-and/or radiotherapy effectively kill only differentiated cancer cells, while metastasis and recurrences are caused by surviving cancer resistant cells (CRC) or a special sub population of cancer cells known as cancer stem cells (CSC). Both of these cell types compromise anticancer treatment through various mechanisms, including withdrawal of the anticancer drug through ATP-binding cassette transporters, increased expression of DNA repair genes, or transition to a quiescent phenotype. In contrast to many cancers, where energy consumption is due to glycolysis (Warburg effect), the bioenergetics of CSC and CRC is most often related to oxidative phosphorylation, that is, dependent on mitochondrial function. Therefore, compounds that induce mitochondrial dysfunction (MDF), such as some antibiotics, may represent an alternative approach to anticancer therapy. This review summarizes the major recent works on the use of antibiotics to target tumors via CSC and suggests next steps for developing this approach.

Automated summary

Traditional cancer treatments kill differentiated cancer cells but not resistant cells or cancer stem cells, which often cause metastasis and recurrences. Unlike many cancers, the bioenergetics of resistant cells and stem cells are often dependent on mitochondrial function. Compounds that induce mitochondrial dysfunction may provide an alternative approach to anticancer therapy.