Statins may decrease skeletal-related events in breast cancer patients with bone metastases.
Metastasis to the skeleton frequently occurs in breast carcinoma patients resulting in different skeletal-related events including pain, hypercalcemia, pathological fracture, and spinal cord or nerve root compression. Bisphosphonates are class of agents most frequently used to reduce skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases by inhibiting osteoclast activity through inhibition of mevolanate pathway which is also important in cholesterol synthesis. Statins are cholesterol lowering agents and inhibit the same pathway. Therefore statins may also reduce skeletal-related events in breast cancer patients with bone metastases by inhibiting osteoclastic activity.
Dincer
Murat
M
Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Institute of Oncology, Sihhiye, Ankara 06100, Turkey.
Bulut
Nilufer
N
Harputluoglu
Hakan
H
Altundag
Kadri
K
D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008798:Mevalonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology
D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; C008047:3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A; D002784:Cholesterol; D008798:Mevalonic Acid