Anthracyclines (ANTs) are widely used in cancer therapy, particularly for lymphoma, sarcoma, breast cancer, and childhood leukemia, and have become the cornerstone of chemotherapy for various malignancies. However, it is associated with fatal and dose-dependent cardiovascular complications, especially cardiotoxicity. Mitochondrial quality control mechanisms, encompassing mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics, and mitochondrial biogenesis, maintain mitochondrial homeostasis in the cardiovascular system. Recent studies have highlighted that mitochondrial quality control mechanisms play considerable roles in ANTs-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC). In addition, natural products targeting mitochondrial quality control mechanisms have emerged as potential therapeutic strategies to alleviate AIC. This review summarizes the types, incidence, prevention, treatment, and pathomechanism of AIC, delves into the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial quality control in the pathogenesis of AIC, and explores natural products that target these mechanisms, so as to provide potential targets and therapeutic drugs for address the clinical challenges in AIC prevention and treatment, where no effective medicines are available.
Keywords: anthracycline; cardiotoxicity; mitochondrial biogenesis; mitochondrial dynamics; mitochondrial quality control; mitophagy; natural products.
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