Perturbed mitochondrial bioenergetics constitute a core pillar of cancer-associated metabolic dysfunction. While mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer may result from myriad biochemical causes, a historically neglected source is that of the mitochondrial genome. Recent large-scale sequencing efforts and clinical studies have highlighted the prevalence of mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in human tumours and their potential roles in cancer progression. In this review we discuss the biology of the mitochondrial genome, sources of mtDNA mutations, and experimental evidence of a role for mtDNA mutations in cancer. We also propose a ‘metabolic licensing’ model for mtDNA mutation-derived dysfunction in cancer initiation and progression.

中文翻译：

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线粒体DNA：被忽视的致癌基因组？

扰动的线粒体生物能学构成了癌症相关代谢功能障碍的核心支柱。虽然癌症中的线粒体功能障碍可能由无数生化原因引起，但历史上被忽视的一个来源是线粒体基因组。最近的大规模测序工作和临床研究强调了人类肿瘤中线粒体 DNA (mtDNA) 突变的普遍性及其在癌症进展中的潜在作用。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了线粒体基因组的生物学、mtDNA 突变的来源以及 mtDNA 突变在癌症中的作用的实验证据。我们还提出了一种“代谢许可”模型，用于癌症发生和进展中 mtDNA 突变衍生的功能障碍。