Statins in prevention and therapy of cancer

Abstract

Statins, inhibitors of one of the most important enzymes of cholesterol synthesis pathway - 3-hydroxy-3- -methyl-glutharyl-coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA), are commonly used as cholesterol level reducing drugs. Nowadays, more and more scientists take an interest of statins as potential both preventive and therapeutical anticancer agents. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed cytotoxic and cytostatic effect of statins in numerous cancer cell lines. Moreover, statins inhibit vascularisation in tumor and prevent metastasis. Optimistic pre-clinical tests results are not completely confirmed by clinical observations. Very promising results of clinical control trials showing a significant reduction of cancer risk in patients receiving statins were not confirmed in randomized clinical trials so far. Clinical trials concerning statins in anticancer therapy were not as successful as supposed. In this article we are trying to summarize current knowledge about potential statins usage in cancer prevention and treatment.