Renal and liver tumors in Tsc2(+/-) mice, a model of tuberous sclerosis complex, do not respond to treatment with atorvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor.
Inactivating mutations of the tumor suppressor gene TSC2 are associated with tumorigenesis in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Statins, as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitors, have the potential to limit the growth of these tumors by limiting the isoprenylation of activated GTPases in Tsc2-null cells. We tested atorvastatin as a therapy for (a) ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-enhanced renal cystadenoma and (b) spontaneous liver hemangioma in 129Sv/Jae Tsc2(+/-) mice. ENU-treated Tsc2(+/-) mice were given atorvastatin chow (0.1%, w/w) for 1 or 3 months before sacrifice at 6 months; 129Sv/Jae Tsc2(+/-) mice were given atorvastatin chow (0.1%, w/w) for 6 months before sacrifice at 12 months. All treatment groups were compared with mice of identical genotype and strain background that were fed control chow. Pathologic analyses revealed a predominance of renal cystadenoma in ENU-treated and liver hemangioma in non-ENU-treated 129Sv/Jae Tsc2(+/-) mice. In both cohorts, serum cholesterol levels and levels of phosphorylated S6 and GTP-RhoA in healthy tissue were significantly (>50%) reduced in atorvastatin-treated mice as compared with controls. Following atorvastatin treatment, no significant reduction in tumor size, morphology, or phosphorylated S6 levels was observed for either ENU-associated renal cystadenoma or spontaneous liver hemangioma as compared with the untreated groups. In conclusion, although the marked reduction in cholesterol levels indicates that atorvastatin was effective as an 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitor, it did not inhibit the growth of tumors that develop in these Tsc2(+/-) models, suggesting that it is unlikely to have benefit as a single-agent therapy for TSC-associated tumors.
Finlay
Geraldine A
GA
Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA. gfinlay@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
Malhowski
Amy J
AJ
Polizzi
Kristen
K
Malinowska-Kolodziej
Izabela
I
Kwiatkowski
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003537:Cystadenoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014402:Tuberous Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D000077005:Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; C000624654:Tsc2 protein, mouse; D000077005:Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin