• P Kubatka, K Zihlavniková, K Kajo, M Péc, N Stollárová, B Bojková, M Kassayová, and P Orendás.
• Department of Medical Biology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovak Republic. kubatka@jfmed.uniba.sk
• Klin Onkol. 2011 Jan 1;24(1):41-5.

BackgroundsStatins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) have proven therapeutic and preventive effects on cardiovascular diseases. Preclinical evidence demonstrates tumor-suppressive effects of statins in several human neoplasias, including breast cancer.Materials And MethodsIn this study, antineoplastic effects of simvastatin in chemoprevention of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mammary carcinogenesis in female rats were evaluated. The drug was dietary administered at two concentrations--18 mg/kg (SIMVA 18) and 180 mg/kg (SIMVA 180).ResultsBasic parameters of experimental carcinogenesis after long-term simvastatin treatment in animals were assessed. In the SIMVA 180 group, simvastatin significantly suppressed tumour frequency by 80.5% and tumour incidence by 58.5% in comparison to the controls. Higher dose simvastatin non-significantly decreased the mean tumor volume by 23.5%, as well as non-significantly lengthened the latency period by 14.5 days compared to the control animals. Simvastatin, administered at a lower dose did not change parameters of mammary carcinogenesis in comparison to the control group. Simvastatin in both treated groups significantly decreased serum levels of triacylglycerols and VLDL-cholesterol in comparison to the control animals. Compared to the controls, a significant increase in food intake by the animals was recorded in the SIMVA 18 and SIMVA 180 groups. No significant differences in the final body weight gain between the simvastatin-administered and the control group were found.ConclusionThis study represents the first report of simvastatin use in experimental mammary carcinogenesis in vivo.

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