Defueling the cancer: ATP synthase as an emerging target in cancer therapy

Ting Wang; Fei Ma; Hai-Li Qian

doi:10.1016/j.omto.2021.08.015

Defueling the cancer: ATP synthase as an emerging target in cancer therapy

Mol Ther Oncolytics. 2021 Sep 3:23:82-95. doi: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.08.015. eCollection 2021 Dec 17.

Authors

Ting Wang^{1

2}, Fei Ma³, Hai-Li Qian¹

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
² Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100021, China.
³ Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.

Abstract

Reprogramming of cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer. Mitochondrial ATP synthase (MAS) produces most of the ATP that drives the cell. High expression of the MAS-composing proteins is found during cancer and is linked to a poor prognosis in glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Cell surface-expressed ATP synthase, translocated from mitochondrion to cell membrane, involves the angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, and metastasis of cancer. ATP synthase has therefore been considered a therapeutic target. We review recent various ATP synthase inhibitors that suppress tumor growth and are being tested for the clinic.

Keywords: ATP synthase inhibitor; cancer metabolism; chemotherapy; mitochondrial ATP synthase; mitochondrial metabolism.

Publication types

Review