Commonly known as the power house of the cell, the mitochondrion and its modest genome have become power players in multiple biological disciplines in the posthuman genome era, including an increasing role in oncogenesis. As a mediator of multiple biochemical pathways, this organelle has emerged as a major biological participant in malignant transformation and tumor behavior. In particular, the observation of altered mitochondrial respiration in the 1920s, known as the Warburg effect, is a characteristic of malignant transformation. Further, the mitochondrial genome is replete with mitochondrial genome mutations in nearly all solid tumors. This suggests an early clinical detection opportunity because of the accelerated mutation rate and high copy number of mitochondrial DNA in tissues and biofluids. Moreover, it has been widely discussed that mitochondria are ideal targets for chemoprevention and/or therapeutic intervention of cancer.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles, as well as reviews, that will inform, instruct, and provide an overview of the latest theoretical and bench top results related to the mitochondrion and its biochemical role in cancer. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Metabolic pathway traffic and mitochondrial mediation
• Nuclear mitochondrial interactions
• Role of mitochondrial genome alterations in oncogenesis and tumor metastasis
• Mitochondrial energy flow, biochemistry, Warburg effect, and tumorigenesis
• Mitochondrial mutations as biomarkers and early indicators of malignant transformation and tumor progression
• Use of high-copy mitochondrial biomarkers for detection of occult malignancies using tissues and biofluids
• Mitochondria and cancerization field effect.
• Directed cancer therapy targeting Mitochondria
• Diagnostic utility of metabolic pathways

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jbb/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: