The role of mitochondrial DNA alterations in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas

We demonstrated that somatic D310 mutations and increase in the copy number of mitochondrial DNA are of clinical importance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We also propose a model of DNA instability and clonal expansion during the carcinogenesis and progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma from the viewpoint of mitochondrial DNA transmission.