The role of altered mitochondrial metabolism in thyroid cancer development and mitochondria-targeted thyroid cancer treatment

Abstract

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common type of endocrine malignancy. Tumour for-mation, progression, and metastasis greatly depend on the efficacy of mitochondria—primarily, the regulation of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, Ca2+ homeostasis, dynamics, energy production, and associated reactive oxygen species generation. Recent studies have successfully confirmed the mitochondrial aetiology of thyroid carcinogenesis. In this review, we focus on the recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of thyroid cancer relating to altered mitochondrial me-tabolism. We also discuss the repurposing of known drugs and the induction of mitochondria-me-diated apoptosis as a new trend in the development of anti-TC therapy.