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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 21, 2013; 19(47): 8880-8886
Published online Dec 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i47.8880
Published online Dec 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i47.8880
Mitochondrial DNA alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
Chia-Chi Hsu, Hsin-Chen Lee, Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Yau-Huei Wei, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Yau-Huei Wei, Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City 252, Taiwan
Author contributions: Hsu CC and Lee HC collected and analyzed the data; Hsu CC, Lee HC and Wei YH wrote the paper; Lee HC and Wei YH share equal contribution.
Supported by A Grant for the Center of Excellence for Cancer Research at Taipei Veterans General Hospital from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Executive Yuan, No. DOH102-TDC-111-007; A Grant from the Aim for the Top University Plan of the Ministry of Education and grants from the National Science Council of Taiwan, No. NSC101-2320-B-010-068-MY3 and No. NSC100-2320-B-010-024-MY3
Correspondence to: Hsin-Chen Lee, PhD, Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Li-Nong St., Sec. 2, Taipei 112, Taiwan. hclee2@ym.edu.tw
Telephone: +886-2-28267327 Fax: +886-2-28264372
Received: August 23, 2013
Revised: November 1, 2013
Accepted: November 12, 2013
Published online: December 21, 2013
Processing time: 150 Days and 5.5 Hours
Revised: November 1, 2013
Accepted: November 12, 2013
Published online: December 21, 2013
Processing time: 150 Days and 5.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: In this review, we summarize the recent findings on the somatic mtDNA alterations identified in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their relationships with the clinicopathological features of HCC. We suggest that somatic mtDNA mutations and a decrease in the mtDNA copy number are common events in HCC and that a mitochondrial dysfunction-activated signaling cascade may play an important role in the progression of HCC. Elucidation of the retrograde signaling pathways in HCC and the quest for strategies to block some of these pathways will be instrumental for the development of novel treatments for this and other malignancies.