Mitochondrion: Main organelle in orchestrating cancer escape from chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: Chemoresistance is a challenging barrier to cancer therapy, and in this context, the role of mitochondria is significant. We put emphasis on key biological characteristics of mitochondria, contributing to tumor escape from various therapies, to find the “Achilles' Heel” of cancer cells for future drug design. Recent findings: The mitochondrion is a dynamic organelle, and its existence is important for tumor growth. Its metabolites also cooperate with cell signaling in tumor proliferation and drug resistance. Conclusion: Biological characteristics of this organelle, such as redox balance, DNA depletion, and metabolic reprogramming, provide flexibility to cancer cells to cope with therapy-induced stress. © 2023 The Authors. Cancer Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.