Molecular Biomarkers & Diagnosis

Elevated Mitochondrial and Heme Function as Hallmarks for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers

Abstract

Chantal Vidal, Sagar Sohoni and Li Zhang

Many targeted therapies have been developed to treat lung cancer. Unfortunately, however statistical data over the past two decades suggest only a slight improvement in a patient's survival rate after diagnosis. Clonal evolution and tumor heterogeneity are the major obstacles in designing effective targeted treatments against cancer. To create more comprehensive treatments, emerging therapies target bioenergetic pathways of cancer cells. Like normal cells, cancer cells can generate energy only through glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Notably, a number of studies have shown that many types of cancer cells rely heavily on mitochondrial respiration. Importantly, research carried out in the authors’ laboratory showed that non-small cell lung cancer cells exhibit increased levels of mitochondrial and heme function. Hence, limiting heme availability interferes with bioenergetics of cancer cells. Evidently, targeting heme function may provide an effective way for treating lung cancer.