Succinate as an Oncometabolite in Endocrine, Mesenchymal, and Epithelial Tumors

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) is a multifaceted enzyme for the mitochondria of eukaryotes, which is responsible for converting succinate to fumarate as a component in the Krebs cycle. Its dysfunction occurs in several malignancies associated with endocrine and epithelial tumors. SDH is an enzymatic complex made of some subunits. Succinate is recognized as an oncometabolite; therefore, the discovery of SDH mutations can give a straight connection between the changes of succinate and tumorigenesis. Progresses in laboratory technologies made it possible to make profiles of and identify succinate accumulation in several types of cancer. In this study, we reviewed the potential roles of SDH mutation and alteration of succinate in tumorigenesis and as tumor markers for the early detection of malignancies.