Mitochondrial Genetics and Cancer
The pivotal role of mitochondrial functions in carcinogenesis is quite well established. However, the critical role of mitochondrial genome alterations to cancer development is muted in traditional textbooks. Recent scientific efforts have provided unequi
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Gabriel D. Dakubo
Mitochondrial Genetics and Cancer
Gabriel D. Dakubo Genesis Genomics, Inc. 290 Munro Street Thunder Bay ON P7A 7T1 Canada [email protected]
ISBN 978-3-642-11415-1 e-ISBN 978-3-642-11416-8 DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-11416-8 Springer Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2010923247 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Violations are liable to prosecution under the German Copyright Law. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover design: WMXDesign GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Preface
With very few exceptions, eukaryotic cells possess two interdependent genomes, chromosomal and extra-chromosomal. Over the past several decades, cancer research has focused primarily on deciphering the intricate alterations in the chromosomal genome, with until recently, very little attention to its cytoplasmic counterpart. In spite of the enormous complexity of the nuclear genome, which we now fully appreciate after completion of the human genome project, the efforts of cancer researchers are commendable in terms of the tremendous gains made in unraveling the numerous genetic changes in cancer. These changes include discoveries of tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes, and caretaker genes that are often mutated in cancer. Recent studies of genomic profiles are uncovering even more altered and mutated genes in cancer. Besides these findings, several therapeutic targets for chemotherapy are currently made from studies of altered nuclear genetic pathways. Inspite of all these positive efforts, the war on cancer, declared in 1971 by Richard Nixon, is far from being worn. Indeed, the failure of chemotherapy is obvious to clinicians, oncologists, and their patients alike. Moreover, the global incidence and prevalence of cancer continue to rise. What are we missing? Which direction should we be taking? Of course, modern integrated nuclear genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics should provide important clues to carcinogenesis, but the contribution of cytoplasmic genetic alterations to carcinogenesis cannot be neglected. There is extensive bidirectional trafficking and cross talk between the two eukaryotic cell genomes, and these pathways are exploite
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