Cell Energy: A New Hypothesis in Decoding Cancer Evolution

Arch Iran Med. 2019 Dec 1;22(12):733-735.

Abstract

The present study deviates from previous approaches as it focuses on the concept of energy to illuminate cancer-related issues. Energy is a prerequisite for any function; cellular function is no exception, and thus, reduced energy in human cells can impair their performance. This hypothesis provides a novel view of cancer formation. It shows that a normal cell transforms into its cancerous counterpart in response to cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion. Moreover, it presents a new definition for the origin of cancer stem cells and how they can regenerate cancer. This article regards a distinct aspect of cancer that helps to differentiate various phases of its progression and shed light on some of the uncharted zones of its pathway for the first time that needs further confirmation by empirical studies.

Keywords: ATP; Cancer biology; Cancer genomics; Cancer stem cell.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms*

Substances

  • Adenosine Triphosphate