Mitochondrial transplantation sensitizes chemotherapy to inhibit tumor development by enhancing anti-tumor immunity.

OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Chemotherapy is associated with side effects, such as damage to myeloid cells and a reduction in the number of immune cells in patients. In addition, tumor cells hijack the mitochondria of immune cells through tunnel nanotubes, thereby weakening immune ability. METHODS: In this study the effects of direct mitochondria transplantation on cancer cell proliferation and chemotherapeutic sensitivity were determined, as well as anti-tumor immunity in in vitro and in vivo lung cancer models. RESULTS: A combination of mitochondrial transplantation and cisplatin chemotherapy was shown for the first time to significantly improve immune infiltration of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and overcome the shortcomings of cisplatin chemotherapy, including damage to myeloid cells and a reduction in the number of immune cells. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the current study provide valuable recommendations for enhancing immune infiltration and augmenting anti-tumor efficacy during chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC. In addition, the findings support "mitochondrial transfer" as a novel paradigm in tumor treatment.