Mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer

Nearly a century of scientific research has revealed a number of notable differences in the structure and function of mitochondria between normal and cancer cells, including differences in metabolic activity, molecular composition, and mtDNA sequence. This article reviews several of these differences and discusses their clinical implications, especially with regard to the use of mitochondria as biomarkers for early detection of cancer, or as unique cellular targets for novel and selective anti-cancer agents. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. and Mitochondria Research Society. All rights reserved.