Cancer treatment causes prolonged extensive emotional and physical effects due to damage directed toward some healthy cells. Symptoms include but are not limited to:

• fatigue
• pain
• hair loss
• nausea
• infections

Long term effects include but are not limited to:

• heart damage
• lung damage
• cognitive dysfunction
• infertility
• lymphedema

and more

Problem: How to improve cancer treatment using research from the mitochondria

• google scholar was used
• I first researched the mitochondria(what its consists of and its functions
• then I did some light research on cancer(how it forms, treatments ,how its related to the mitochondria)
• I researched on how the mitochondria contributes to cancer
• Why the mitochondria is needed in the spread of cancer

How are the mitochondria and cancer related? The mitochondrion is not only in charge of cell metabolism(includes lipid and nucleic metabolism),cell signalling and energy production(ATP synthesis), but also in the growth of metastasis and tumour development.The mutations that occur in the mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) are often found in cancer cells encouraging the rewiring of biosynthesis and  bioenergetics as well as a number of metabolites(pro-ecogenic metabolites or oncometabolites that accumulate due to distorted distorted pathways in cancer cells) of which are responsible for tumour progression and metabolism.

The mitochondria supplies energy(producing ATP) and are the vital components to rapid growth and regulation of cells(apoptosis).Cancer cells reprogram by altering signalling pathways and gene regulatory pathways causing  the other normal cells to spread and survive instead of dying when they're supposed to.Cancer cells depend on the production of ATP by the mitochondria and the generation of precursors like lipids proteins and nucleotides of which is needed for cell proliferation or rapid cell division and cell formation.Cancer cells also need two crucial processes:glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation.Now here's a quick refresher;glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that turns sugar or glucose,a 6 carbon compound into a 3 carbon compound called pyruvate,which is crucial for energy production.And oxidative phosphorylation is another metabolic pathway whereby cells use enzymes to oxidize or remove electrons from nutrients, leading to the release of the chemical energy that produces ATP of Adenosine triphosphate.When adjustments to the production of metabolites in the mitochondria or even manipulation of  the oxidative phosphorylation genes can be made tumour growth can be moderated.

Development of cancer(group of disease) Development of cancer itself starts with the initiation stage with a cancer cell, formed from a genetic mutation as previously mentioned.This change /mutation in a cell can be induced by external exposure to harmful substances that cause cancer( a carcinogen) or a random spontaneous event i.e.DNA damage, genomic   instability.Carcinogens can include many chemical substances including:viruses, radiation,sunlight/UV rays and tobacco.Cancer can develop based on the amount of exposure to these carcinogens and the person genetic liability or tendency to suffer from a certain cancer or cancers.After carcinogenesis(normal cells transformed into cancer cells), the promotion stage starts to develop.The promotion stage is a critical stage in cancer that starts to develop when cells start to increase rapidly in numbers and undertake significant changes due to 

What is Cancer? Cancer is not one, but a group of genetic diseases distinguished by the abnormal amount of cells and uncontrolled cell growth spreading and invading part of the body.Human cells generally grow and multiply through a process called cell division, forming new cells when the body needs it.Once those cells become old and no longer functional they die when given the signals to do so, and new ones are

• The Warburg effect or aerobatic effect also takes place during the production of cancer cells as it is the process or phenomenon where cancer cells metabolize or ferment glucose into lactate(natural substance where glucose is converted to energy without oxygen.This Metabolic transfer provides rapid production of lipids, nucleotides ,amino acids and swift ATP growth helps fuel the growth of cancer.
• Metastasis

-When cancer cells spread from the original tumour to other parts of the body -also known as stage 4 cancer

• Bioenergenetics

-A field in cell biology and biochemistry that studies energy flow through living systems -Includes the study of  transformation of energy in living organisms and various cellular processes like cellular respiration,along with enzymatic and metabolic processes leading to the manufacturing and use of adenosine triphosphate or ATP Metabolic activity of Mitochondria and Cancer Therapies

The Mitochondria's role in cancer metabolism Cancer cell metabolism alludes to the process by which cancer cells process nutrients to support their proliferation and growth from utilizing different metabolic pathwaysNADH(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide),pyrimidine and lipid biosynthetic pathways are all vital cellular sources in the mitochondria, as they play a part in cancer cell metabolism including;lipid,nucleic and ATP metabolism.Several intermediates or metabolites in the Krebs cycle are crucial for cancer cell apoptosis,proliferation and metastasis.

Importance of mitochondrial metabolism in cancer Mitochondrial metabolism is necessary for metastasis,drug resistance,survival,and tumour proliferation.(isocitrate dehydrogenase) and SDH(succinate dehydrogenase) are mutations of enzymes that occur in the krebs cycle.These mutations can lead to high concentrations of D2HG(d-2 hydroxyglutarate)furmarate and succenate encouraging tumour aggression and proliferation.

Cancer Treatment with the Mitochondria Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress(imbalances between radical and antioxidants) have been discovered in many diseases to be the cause of one of the causes.Diseases like:neurodegenerative disorders,pathogen infections and various cancers. Oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction,decrease in mtDNA and upregulation of ROS are known to be found in several tumors.Looking at what inhibits the mitochondria from working so well can help figure out the root cause of cancer.

Metabolic activity of Mitochondria and Cancer Therapies

The Mitochondria's role in cancer metabolism Cancer cell metabolism alludes to the process by which cancer cells process nutrients to support their proliferation and growth from utilizing different metabolic pathways NADH(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide),pyrimidine and lipid biosynthetic pathways are all vital cellular sources in the mitochondria, as they play a part in cancer cell metabolism including; lipid ,nucleic and ATP metabolism. Several intermediates or metabolites in the Krebs cycle are crucial for cancer cell apoptosis, proliferation and metastasis.

Importance of mitochondrial metabolism in cancer

Mitochondrial metabolism is necessary for metastasis, drug resistance, survival, and tumour proliferation.(isocitrate dehydrogenase) and SDH(succinate dehydrogenase) are mutations of enzymes that occur in the krebs cycle.These mutations can lead to high concentrations of D2HG(d-2 hydroxyglutarate) furmarate and succenate encouraging tumour aggression and proliferation.

Cancer Treatment with the Mitochondria

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress(imbalances between radical and antioxidants) have been discovered in many diseases to be the cause of one of the causes. Diseases like: neurodegenerative disorders, pathogen infections and various cancers. Oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction, decrease in mtDNA and upregulation of ROS are known to be found in several tumors. Looking at what inhibits the mitochondria from working so well can help figure out the root cause of cancer.

How are the mitochondria and cancer related?

The mitochondrion is not only in charge of cell metabolism(includes lipid and nucleic metabolism),cell signalling and energy production(ATP synthesis), but also in the growth of metastasis and tumour development.The mutations that occur in the mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) are often found in cancer cells encouraging the rewiring of biosynthesis and  bioenergetics as well as a number of metabolites(pro-ecogenic metabolites or oncometabolites that accumulate due to distorted distorted pathways in cancer cells) of which are responsible for tumour progression and metabolism.

The mitochondria supplies energy(producing ATP) and are the vital components to rapid growth and regulation of cells(apoptosis).Cancer cells reprogram by altering signalling pathways and gene regulatory pathways causing  the other normal cells to spread and survive instead of dying when they're supposed to.Cancer cells depend on the production of ATP by the mitochondria and the generation of precursors like lipids proteins and nucleotides of which is needed for cell proliferation or rapid cell division and cell formation.Cancer cells also need two crucial processes:glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation.Now here's a quick refresher;glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that turns sugar or glucose,a 6 carbon compound into a 3 carbon compound called pyruvate,which is crucial for energy production.And oxidative phosphorylation is another metabolic pathway whereby cells use enzymes to oxidize or remove electrons from nutrients, leading to the release of the chemical energy that produces ATP of Adenosine triphosphate.When adjustments to the production of metabolites in the mitochondria or even manipulation of  the oxidative phosphorylation genes can be made tumour growth can be moderated.

In conclusion, I aimed for targeted treatment for cancer based on my mitochondrial research. My research shows that Mitochondrial dysfunction can induce cancer and many other diseases. The mitochondria is in charge of cell metabolism, cell signalling and energy production. However it is also involved in the growth of metastasis and tumour growth. Cancer cells depend on the production of ATP by the mitochondria and the generation of precursors like lipids proteins and nucleotides of which is needed for cell proliferation or rapid cell division and cell formation. Cancer cells also need two crucial processes: glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Now, glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that turns sugar or glucose,a 6 carbon compound into a 3 carbon compound called pyruvate, which is crucial for energy production, And oxidative phosphorylation is another metabolic pathway whereby cells use enzymes to oxidize or remove electrons from nutrients, leading to the release of the chemical energy that produces ATP of Adenosine triphosphate. If the adjustments to the production of metabolites in the mitochondria or even manipulation of  the oxidative phosphorylation genes can be made tumour growth can be moderated. With this information the recommended mitochondrial targeted cancer treatment would be if medical specialists focused on disturbing the structural features of cancer that include but are not limited to; high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio, increased stiffness and loss of tissue organization,, redox and metabolic processes to induce apoptosis or cell death. Another approach can be looking at the Warburg effect more closely.The Warburg effect by definition is the process or phenomenon where cancer cells metabolize or ferment glucose into lactate(natural substance where glucose is converted to energy without oxygen. This Metabolic transfer provides rapid production of lipids,nucleotides ,amino acids and swift ATP growth helps fuel the growth of cancer. The Warburg effect became the main base for visual recognition cancer.As the Mitochondria creates Adenosine triphosphate or ATP looking for sign of the Warburg effect definitely helps curate Therapy and treatment for various different types of cancer.

References

Costa, J. (2026, february 16). Cancer rates and trends. Britannica. Retrieved february 20, 2026, from https://www.britannica.com/science/cancer-disease/Cancer-rates-and-trends#ref224713 Eldridge, l. (2025, november 18). Cancer cells. verywell health. Retrieved from https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-cancer-cells-2248795 Reynolds, S. (2023). Molecular Burglary: Cancer Cells Hijack Energy from Immune Cells. National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2023/cancer-cells-steal-mitochondria-t-cells wikipidia cotributors. (2026). Bioenergenetics. wikipedia. Retrieved february 20, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Bioenergetics&id=1331420509&wpFormIdentifier=titleform#APA_style Yu'e Liu, Y. S. (2020, july 15). Mitochondria as a target in cancer treatment. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved february 2026, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8491233/ Yu'e Liu, Y. s.-L. (2023, january 6). An Overview: The Diversified Role of Mitochondria in Cancer Metabolism. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved february 20, 2026, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9910000/

I would like to acknowledge my science 10-1 teacher, Mrs.Atabayeva for encouraging students as well as myself to do science fair, and helping me as much as she could. I would also like to acknowledge my parents for motivating me to push harder and hopefully get gold this year. My mom helped me properly do citations in APA format. My Dad helped proof read my work ensuring it was good to submit.