Mitochondrial Genome Transfer to Tumor Cells Breaks The Rules and Establishes a New Precedent in Cancer Biology

ABSTRACT

Horizontal gene transfer is known to occur in bacteria and archaea whereas higher organisms including mammals undergo vertical transfer. Our recent results demonstrate horizontal transfer of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from normal host cells to tumor cells lacking mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This mtDNA migration results in recovery of respiration, restored tumor initiation, and metastasis.

KEYWORDS:

• intercellular DNA transfer
• mitochondrial DNA deletion
• metastasis
• respiration
• tumor growth

Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

MVB and CG were supported by the Malaghan Institute. JN was supported, in part, by funding from the Australian Research Council, the Czech Science Foundation (P301/10/1937), and the BIOCEV European Regional Development Fund (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0109).