PGC-1 Coactivators: Shepherding the Mitochondrial Biogenesis of Tumors

As coordinators of energy demands and nutritional supplies, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) coactivator 1 (PGC-1) family of transcriptional coactivators regulates mitochondrial biogenesis to control the cellular bioenergetic state. Aside from maintaining normal and adapted cell physiology, recent studies indicate that PGC-1 coactivators also serve important functions in cancer cells. In fact, by balancing mitochondrial energy production with demands for cell proliferation, these factors are involved in almost every step of tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss the interplay between PGC-1 coactivators and cancer pathogenesis, including tumor initiation, metastatic spread, and response to treatment. Given their involvement in the functional biology of cancers, identification of regulatory targets that influence PGC-1 expression and activity may reveal novel strategies suitable for mono- or combinatorial cancer therapies.