We found a profound impact on mitochondrial metabolism and reactive oxygen species content; these were related to a decrement in the expression of the transcription factor forkhead-box-protein P3 (FOXP3), which is highly involved in aggressiveness in leukemia cells; this was verified by a decrement in invasion capacity exhibited by the Jurkat cells under the GDF11 treatment. The gene discussed is GDF11; the disease is leukemia.