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Wang ZB, Zhang X, Fang C, Liu XT, Liao QJ, Wu N, Wang J. Immunotherapy and the ovarian cancer microenvironment: Exploring potential strategies for enhanced treatment efficacy. Immunology 2024. [PMID: 38618976 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite progress in cancer immunotherapy, ovarian cancer (OC) prognosis continues to be disappointing. Recent studies have shed light on how not just tumour cells, but also the complex tumour microenvironment, contribute to this unfavourable outcome of OC immunotherapy. The complexities of the immune microenvironment categorize OC as a 'cold tumour'. Nonetheless, understanding the precise mechanisms through which the microenvironment influences the effectiveness of OC immunotherapy remains an ongoing scientific endeavour. This review primarily aims to dissect the inherent characteristics and behaviours of diverse cells within the immune microenvironment, along with an exploration into its reprogramming and metabolic changes. It is expected that these insights will elucidate the operational dynamics of the immune microenvironment in OC and lay a theoretical groundwork for improving the efficacy of immunotherapy in OC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Bin Wang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Xiu Zhang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Chao Fang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of the Research and Development of Novel Pharmaceutical Preparations, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiao-Ting Liu
- The Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
| | - Qian-Jin Liao
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Nayiyuan Wu
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Hunan Gynecological Tumor Clinical Research Center; Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism; Hunan Cancer Hospital, and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Public Service Platform of Tumor Organoids Technology, Changsha, China
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2
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Wang Y, Chen X, Yang Y. CircRNA-regulated glucose metabolism in ovarian cancer: an emerging landscape for therapeutic intervention. Clin Transl Oncol 2024; 26:584-596. [PMID: 37578652 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-023-03285-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) has the highest mortality rate among female reproductive system tumours, with limited efficacy of traditional treatments and 5-year survival rates that rarely exceed 40%. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a stable endogenous circular RNA that typically regulates protein expression by binding to downstream miRNA. It has been demonstrated that circRNAs play an important role in the proliferation, migration, and glucose metabolism (such as the Warburg effect) of OC and can regulate the expression of glucose metabolism-related proteins such as GLUT1 and HK2, promoting anaerobic glycolysis of cancer cells, increasing glucose uptake and ATP production, and affecting energy supply and biosynthetic substances to support tumour growth and invasion. This review summarises the formation and characteristics of circRNAs and focuses on their role in regulating glucose metabolism in OC cells and their potential therapeutic value, providing insights for identifying new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaolong Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Gynecological Oncology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Gynecological Oncology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yongxiu Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Gynecological Oncology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
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3
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Szeőcs D, Vida B, Petővári G, Póliska S, Janka E, Sipos A, Uray K, Sebestyén A, Krasznai Z, Bai P. Cell-free ascites from ovarian cancer patients induces Warburg metabolism and cell proliferation through TGFβ-ERK signaling. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-023-01056-1. [PMID: 38196068 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-01056-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Ascites plays a key role in supporting the metastatic potential of ovarian cancer cells. Shear stress and carry-over of cancer cells by ascites flow support carcinogenesis and metastasis formation. In addition, soluble factors may participate in the procarcinogenic effects of ascites in ovarian cancer. This study aimed to determine the biological effects of cell-free ascites on carcinogenesis in ovarian cancer cells. Cell-free ascites from ovarian cancer patients (ASC) non-selectively induced cell proliferation in multiple models of ovarian cancer and untransformed primary human dermal fibroblasts. Furthermore, ASC induced a Warburg-type rearrangement of cellular metabolism in A2780 ovarian cancer cells characterized by increases in cellular oxygen consumption and glycolytic flux; increases in glycolytic flux were dominant. ASC induced mitochondrial uncoupling and fundamentally reduced fatty acid oxidation. Ascites-elicited effects were uniform among ascites specimens. ASC-elicited transcriptomic changes in A2780 ovarian cancer cells included induction of the TGFβ-ERK/MEK pathway, which plays a key role in inducing cell proliferation and oncometabolism. ASC-induced gene expression changes, as well as the overexpression of members of the TGFβ signaling system, were associated with poor survival in ovarian cancer patients. We provided evidence that the activation of the autocrine/paracrine of TGFβ signaling system may be present in bladder urothelial carcinoma and stomach adenocarcinoma. Database analysis suggests that the TGFβ system may feed forward bladder urothelial carcinoma and stomach adenocarcinoma. Soluble components of ASC support the progression of ovarian cancer. These results suggest that reducing ascites production may play an essential role in the treatment of ovarian cancer by inhibiting the progression and reducing the severity of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dóra Szeőcs
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032
- Center of Excellence, The Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Beáta Vida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032
| | - Gábor Petővári
- Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilárd Póliska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032
| | - Eszter Janka
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032
| | - Adrienn Sipos
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032
- Center of Excellence, The Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Debrecen, Hungary
- HUN-REN-DE Cell Biology and Signaling Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032
| | - Karen Uray
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032
- Center of Excellence, The Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Anna Sebestyén
- Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoárd Krasznai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032
| | - Péter Bai
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032.
- Center of Excellence, The Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Debrecen, Hungary.
- HUN-REN-DE Cell Biology and Signaling Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032.
- MTA-DE Lendület Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032.
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 4032.
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Kumar S, Acharya S, Karthikeyan M, Biswas P, Kumari S. Limitations and potential of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1292166. [PMID: 38264664 PMCID: PMC10803592 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1292166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the third most common gynecological cancer and alone has an emergence rate of approximately 308,069 cases worldwide (2020) with dire survival rates. To put it into perspective, the mortality rate of OC is three times higher than that of breast cancer and it is predicted to only increase significantly by 2040. The primary reasons for such a high rate are that the physical symptoms of OC are detectable only during the advanced phase of the disease when resistance to chemotherapies is high and around 80% of the patients that do indeed respond to chemotherapy initially, show a poor prognosis subsequently. This highlights a pressing need to develop new and effective therapies to tackle advanced OC to improve prognosis and patient survival. A major advance in this direction is the emergence of combination immunotherapeutic methods to boost CD8+ T cell function to tackle OC. In this perspective, we discuss our view of the current state of some of the combination immunotherapies in the treatment of advanced OC, their limitations, and potential approaches toward a safer and more effective response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sudha Kumari
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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Xie F, Guo W, Wang X, Zhou K, Guo S, Liu Y, Sun T, Li S, Xu Z, Yuan Q, Zhang H, Gu X, Xing J, Liu S. Mutational profiling of mitochondrial DNA reveals an epithelial ovarian cancer-specific evolutionary pattern contributing to high oxidative metabolism. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1523. [PMID: 38193640 PMCID: PMC10775184 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) heavily relies on oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and exhibits distinct mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming. Up to now, the evolutionary pattern of somatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in EOC tissues and their potential roles in metabolic remodelling have not been systematically elucidated. METHODS Based on a large somatic mtDNA mutation dataset from private and public EOC cohorts (239 and 118 patients, respectively), we most comprehensively characterised the EOC-specific evolutionary pattern of mtDNA mutations and investigated its biological implication. RESULTS Mutational profiling revealed that the mitochondrial genome of EOC tissues was highly unstable compared with non-cancerous ovary tissues. Furthermore, our data indicated the delayed heteroplasmy accumulation of mtDNA control region (mtCTR) mutations and near-complete absence of mtCTR non-hypervariable segment (non-HVS) mutations in EOC tissues, which is consistent with stringent negative selection against mtCTR mutation. Additionally, we observed a bidirectional and region-specific evolutionary pattern of mtDNA coding region mutations, manifested as significant negative selection against mutations in complex V (ATP6/ATP8) and tRNA loop regions, and potential positive selection on mutations in complex III (MT-CYB). Meanwhile, EOC tissues showed higher mitochondrial biogenesis compared with non-cancerous ovary tissues. Further analysis revealed the significant association between mtDNA mutations and both mitochondrial biogenesis and overall survival of EOC patients. CONCLUSIONS Our study presents a comprehensive delineation of EOC-specific evolutionary patterns of mtDNA mutations that aligned well with the specific mitochondrial metabolic remodelling, conferring novel insights into the functional roles of mtDNA mutations in EOC tumourigenesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanfan Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyXijing HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Physiology and PathophysiologyFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Wenjie Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Physiology and PathophysiologyFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Xingguo Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyXijing HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Kaixiang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Physiology and PathophysiologyFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Shanshan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Physiology and PathophysiologyFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Physiology and PathophysiologyFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Tianlei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Physiology and PathophysiologyFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Shengjing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Physiology and PathophysiologyFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Zhiyang Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyXijing HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Qing Yuan
- Institute of Medical ResearchNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Huanqin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Physiology and PathophysiologyFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Xiwen Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of PathologyXijing Hospital and School of Basic MedicineFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Jinliang Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Physiology and PathophysiologyFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
| | - Shujuan Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyXijing HospitalFourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anChina
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Tang PW, Frisbie L, Hempel N, Coffman L. Insights into the tumor-stromal-immune cell metabolism cross talk in ovarian cancer. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C731-C749. [PMID: 37545409 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00588.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The ovarian cancer tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a constellation of abundant cellular components, extracellular matrix, and soluble factors. Soluble factors, such as cytokines, chemokines, structural proteins, extracellular vesicles, and metabolites, are critical means of noncontact cellular communication acting as messengers to convey pro- or antitumorigenic signals. Vast advancements have been made in our understanding of how cancer cells adapt their metabolism to meet environmental demands and utilize these adaptations to promote survival, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. The stromal TME contribution to this metabolic rewiring has been relatively underexplored, particularly in ovarian cancer. Thus, metabolic activity alterations in the TME hold promise for further study and potential therapeutic exploitation. In this review, we focus on the cellular components of the TME with emphasis on 1) metabolic signatures of ovarian cancer; 2) understanding the stromal cell network and their metabolic cross talk with tumor cells; and 3) how stromal and tumor cell metabolites alter intratumoral immune cell metabolism and function. Together, these elements provide insight into the metabolic influence of the TME and emphasize the importance of understanding how metabolic performance drives cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla W Tang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Leonard Frisbie
- Department of Integrative Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Nadine Hempel
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Lan Coffman
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
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Czegle I, Huang C, Soria PG, Purkiss DW, Shields A, Wappler-Guzzetta EA. The Role of Genetic Mutations in Mitochondrial-Driven Cancer Growth in Selected Tumors: Breast and Gynecological Malignancies. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13040996. [PMID: 37109525 PMCID: PMC10145875 DOI: 10.3390/life13040996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing understanding of the molecular and cytogenetic background of various tumors that helps us better conceptualize the pathogenesis of specific diseases. Additionally, in many cases, these molecular and cytogenetic alterations have diagnostic, prognostic, and/or therapeutic applications that are heavily used in clinical practice. Given that there is always room for improvement in cancer treatments and in cancer patient management, it is important to discover new therapeutic targets for affected individuals. In this review, we discuss mitochondrial changes in breast and gynecological (endometrial and ovarian) cancers. In addition, we review how the frequently altered genes in these diseases (BRCA1/2, HER2, PTEN, PIK3CA, CTNNB1, RAS, CTNNB1, FGFR, TP53, ARID1A, and TERT) affect the mitochondria, highlighting the possible associated individual therapeutic targets. With this approach, drugs targeting mitochondrial glucose or fatty acid metabolism, reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial biogenesis, mtDNA transcription, mitophagy, or cell death pathways could provide further tailored treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibolya Czegle
- Department of Internal Medicine and Haematology, Semmelweis University, H-1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Chelsea Huang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Priscilla Geraldine Soria
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Dylan Wesley Purkiss
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Andrea Shields
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
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De Rasmo D, Cormio A, Cormio G, Signorile A. Ovarian Cancer: A Landscape of Mitochondria with Emphasis on Mitochondrial Dynamics. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021224. [PMID: 36674740 PMCID: PMC9865899 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) represents the main cause of death from gynecological malignancies in western countries. Altered cellular and mitochondrial metabolism are considered hallmarks in cancer disease. Several mitochondrial aspects have been found altered in OC, such as the oxidative phosphorylation system, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dynamics. Mitochondrial dynamics includes cristae remodeling, fusion, and fission processes forming a dynamic mitochondrial network. Alteration of mitochondrial dynamics is associated with metabolic change in tumour development and, in particular, the mitochondrial shaping proteins appear also to be responsible for the chemosensitivity and/or chemoresistance in OC. In this review a focus on the mitochondrial dynamics in OC cells is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico De Rasmo
- Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnology (IBIOM), National Research Council (CNR), 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Antonella Cormio
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Gennaro Cormio
- IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Anna Signorile
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence:
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