Cardiolipin Molecule (IMAGE) Boston College Caption Researchers from Boston College and Washington University School of Medicine examined mitochondrial lipids in a diverse group of mouse brain tumors, specifically the complex lipid known as cardiolipin. Their new research, published in the Journal of Lipid Research, contends that cancer could arise from genomic mutations, environmental insults, or from epigenetic (gene-environmental) abnormalities, any of which could damage cardiolipin and ultimately produce irreversible injury to cellular respiration. Credit Boston College Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.