title: Statins in oncological research: from experimental studies to clinical practice.
abstract: Statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors are commonly used drugs in the treatment of dyslipidemias, primarily raised cholesterol. Recently, many epidemiological and preclinical studies pointed to anti-tumor properties of statins, including anti-proliferative activities, apoptosis, decreased angiogenesis and metastasis. These processes play an important role in carcinogenesis and, therefore, the role of statins in cancer disease is being seriously discussed among oncologists. Anti-neoplastic properties of statins combined with an acceptable toxicity profile in the majority of individuals support their further development as anti-tumor drugs. The mechanism of action, current preclinical studies and clinical efficacy of statins are reviewed in this paper. Moreover, promising results have been reported regarding the statins' efficacy in some cancer types, especially in esophageal and colorectal cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Statins' hepatotoxicity has traditionally represented an obstacle to the prescription of this class of drugs and this issue is also discussed in this review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kubatka
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital and Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: peter.kruzliak@savba.sk.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kruzliak
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Medical Faculty, Masaryk University and International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rotrekl
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Medical Faculty, Masaryk University and International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Sarka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jelinkova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mladosievicova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D035843:Biomedical Research; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
keywords: Anti-tumor properties; Cancer risk reduction; Cancer therapy; Carcinogenesis; Chemoprevention; Statins