The role of mitochondrial electron transport in tumorigenesis and metastasis

Metabolic remodeling involves integration of multiple microenvironmental and adaptive inputs. Adaptation to changes in the local tumor microenvironment including essential nutrients, bioenergetics fuels and oxygen supply involve nuclear and mitochondrial mutations, intercellular mitochondrial trafficking and epigenetic changes. Integration of these changes will result in a window of opportunity for tumor progression around a bioenergetics and metabolic optimum that we refer to as the sweet spot.136