Essential Role for Oxidative Phosphorylation in Cancer Progression

Cancers are often affected by derangements in mitochondrial (mt) function, as well as mtDNA mutations. In this issue, Tan et al. (2015) demonstrate that only mtDNA-depleted cancer cells capable of recovering mtDNA from the host form metastasizing cancers in vivo, revealing an essential requirement for oxidative phosphorylation in tumor progression. Cancers are often affected by derangements in mitochondrial (mt) function, as well as mtDNA mutations. In this issue, Tan et al. (2015) demonstrate that only mtDNA-depleted cancer cells capable of recovering mtDNA from the host form metastasizing cancers in vivo, revealing an essential requirement for oxidative phosphorylation in tumor progression.