Statins in theTreatment of Tumors - Fiction or a New TherapeuticApproach?

Overview

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) belong to the key hypocholesterolemic drugs. Besides this very importantfunction, several others have been recently demonstrated such as the inhibition of atherogenous plaque formation,platelet aggregation, or improvement of endothelial function and fibrinolytic activity, or even the direct protectiveeffects of statins on the mortality of acute myocardial infarction. Aside from the major interest of both the medicalcommunity and pharmaceutical companies remain the very important anti-tumor effects of this group of drugs. Asbased on recent medical research, inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, the key enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthesis,brings about depletion of several intermediates. The most important one seems to be farnesyl pyrophosphate, whichhas a very important role in the cell signaling affecting apoptosis. The aim of the survey is to summarize presentknowledge in this medical field and to demonstrate the enormous curative potential of this group of drugs.

Key words:
statins, tumors, therapeutic approach.