New Targets for Cancer Therapy

The discovery of NAMs provides a promising new target for cancer treatments, particularly for preventing metastasis, the cause of most cancer-related deaths.

A Novel Therapeutic Angle

Current drugs that target mitochondria can have significant side effects on healthy cells. The new findings suggest a more precise approach.

• Targeting the Scaffold: Instead of inhibiting mitochondria, new therapies could disrupt the actin skeleton that enables NAM formation.

• Weakening Cancer Cells: By blocking this emergency repair mechanism, cancer cells would become more vulnerable to the physical stresses of metastasis, potentially reducing their ability to spread.

Broader Biological Significance

While observed in cancer, researchers believe this mitochondrial response may be a universal mechanism. Other cells that endure physical stress, such as neurons, immune cells, and embryonic cells, might use a similar process for survival and repair, opening up new fields of cellular research.