"Prostate cancer megacell" by Valentin Baumgartner, University Hospital of Zurich - USZ
Entry in category 1. Object of study; Copyright CC-BY-NC-ND: Valentin Baumgartner
Depicted here is a microscopic image of prostate cancer cells stained for nuclei (blue) and mitochondria (red). An eye-catching "megacell" entangles the neighbouring cells with its extensive mesh of mitochondria and shows the extraordinary structure of these dynamic networks. Mitochondria are the energy producing organelles of the cells and are indispensable for many biosynthetic signalling pathways, cellular homeostasis and apoptosis. In the early stages of prostate cancer, the cells rely heavily on functional mitochondria to sustain their anabolic growth. In particular, mitochondria in malignant cells might promote drug resistance and tumour progression. Our goal is to target the mitochondria of cancer cells in order to provide novel therapeutic possibilities that will benefit patients with prostate cancer.
"Prostate cancer megacell" by Valentin Baumgartner, University Hospital of Zurich - USZ
Entry in category 1. Object of study; Copyright CC-BY-NC-ND: Valentin Baumgartner
Depicted here is a microscopic image of prostate cancer cells stained for nuclei (blue) and mitochondria (red). An eye-catching "megacell" entangles the neighbouring cells with its extensive mesh of mitochondria and shows the extraordinary structure of these dynamic networks. Mitochondria are the energy producing organelles of the cells and are indispensable for many biosynthetic signalling pathways, cellular homeostasis and apoptosis. In the early stages of prostate cancer, the cells rely heavily on functional mitochondria to sustain their anabolic growth. In particular, mitochondria in malignant cells might promote drug resistance and tumour progression. Our goal is to target the mitochondria of cancer cells in order to provide novel therapeutic possibilities that will benefit patients with prostate cancer.