A Decade of Mitochondria-Targeting Drugs in Cancer Treatment: Case Review on Mitochondria-Targeting Curcumin or Mitocurcumin

Abstract

Mitochondrial targeting is of particular interest to researchers, as it presents as a personalized medicine approach in cancer cell metabolism and survival. By specifically targeting mitochondria, targeted therapies can disrupt energy production, induce apoptosis, and overcome drug resistance in cancer cells, potentially improving therapeutic outcomes. This review discusses the advancements in mitochondrial drug delivery over the last decade. It explores the potential of mitochondrial targeting using mitocurcumin (MTC), a novel small molecule curcumin analog that has been engineered to specifically target mitochondria in cancer cells, thereby augmenting its therapeutic efficacy. The antiproliferative activity of MTC demonstrates its ability to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and promote oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis, oxidative damage, and cellular senescence in diverse cancer cell lines, thereby enhancing its specificity for cancer cells. Despite these encouraging attributes, current research on MTC remains limited. Further comprehensive investigations are imperative to fully elucidate the efficacy and potential applications of mitochondrial targeting, especially MTC, in oncological therapeutics, including in vivo efficacy trials, pharmacokinetic profiling, toxicology studies, and combination therapy assessments. Although mitochondrial targeting presents a promising avenue for cancer therapy, rigorous scientific inquiry is essential to validate its clinical potential and optimize its therapeutic application for improved patient compliance. © 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.