The role of statins in cancer prevention and treatment

Statins inhibit the activity of the rate-limiting enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, HMG-CoA reductase, and are widely prescribed for lowering plasma lipid levels. Several statins have antitumor effects in experimental models, and observational studies suggest that this anticancer activity in the laboratory may translate into effective treatments and/or preventive strategies for certain human cancers. This paper reviews the laboratory and clinical evidence that statins have anticancer activity, discusses the possible mechanisms by which tumor growth may be inhibited by this class of drugs, and outlines strategies for the evaluation of these agents in the prevention and treatment of human cancers.