The role of statins in lung cancer.

Authors :: Amin F
Fathi F
Reiner Ž
Banach M
Sahebkar A
Source :: Archives of medical science : AMS [Arch Med Sci] 2021 Mar 18; Vol. 18 (1), pp. 141-152. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Mar 18 (Print Publication: 2022).
Publication Year :: 2021
Abstract: Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related mortality in the 21 <superscript>st</superscript> century. Statins as inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase not only reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease but may also play an important role in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer. Statins have several antitumor properties including the ability to reduce cell proliferation and angiogenesis, decrease invasion and synergistic suppression of lung cancer progression. Statins induce tumor cell apoptosis by inhibition of downstream products such as small GTP-binding proteins, Rho, Ras and Rac, which are dependent on isoprenylation. Statins reduce angiogenesis in tumors by down-regulation of pro-angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor. In this review, the feasibility and efficacy of statins in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer are discussed.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.<br /> (Copyright: © 2021 Termedia & Banach.)