title: Melanoma chemoprevention: a role for statins or fibrates?
abstract: Although numerous second-generation isoprenylation inhibitors are proposed or under investigation for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer (eg, R115777, SCH 66336, L-778,123, BMS-214662), the chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive potential of commonly prescribed first-generation isoprenylation inhibitors, the statins, and other classes of lipid-lowering medications, the fibrates, has yet to be seriously explored. Two lipid-lowering medications, lovastatin and gemfibrozil, have been associated with a decreased incidence of melanoma in large, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical cardiology trials. This article reviews melanoma biology and the clinical evidence for the use of lipid-lowering medications for melanoma chemoprevention and/or adjuvant chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. Robert.Dellavalle@UCHSC.edu
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dellavalle
authors.forename: M Kelly
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schilling
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008148:Lovastatin; D015248:Gemfibrozil