Simvastatin Effects on a Human Lung Carcinoma and Cholesterol Homeostasis of Host and Non-Host Mice

• Published in: Archives of physiology and biochemistry Vol. 109; no. 5; pp. 435 - 440
• Main Authors: Polo, M., Bravo, M.G. de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Informa UK Ltd 2001; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animals; Anticholesteremic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight - drug effects; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid - metabolism; Chemotherapy; Cholesterol - metabolism; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; Female; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases - metabolism; Liver - enzymology; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - metabolism; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Nude; Microsomes, Liver - enzymology; Neoplasm Transplantation; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Simvastatin - pharmacology; Cell proliferation; Carcinoma; Homeostasis; Lipids; Anticarcinogen; Bronchopulmonary; Bronchus disease; Inhibition; Tumor cell; Human; Lung disease; Respiratory disease; Enzyme; Simvastatin; Rodentia; Enzyme inhibitor; Statin derivative; Malignant tumor; Biological activity; Cholesterol; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase; Oxidoreductases; Experimental tumor; Antilipemic agent
• ISSN: 1381-3455; 1744-4160
• DOI: 10.1076/apab.109.5.435.8044

In order to investigate the effect of a competitive inhibitor of the HMG-CoA reductase on tumor growth and cholesterol homeostasis of host and non-host mice, we maintained a human lung mucoepidermoid carcinoma (HLMC) in nude mice, treating these animals with Simvastatin for 33 days. The drug increased the total activity of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase without affecting the cholesterolemia. Non-treated host animals presented lower serum, tissue and microsomal hepatic cholesterol than non-host animals. These differences disappeared when animals were treated with Simvastatin, though the induction of the reductase activity at mid-dark was higher in non-host than in host animals. Simvastatin produced no significant effects on both final tumor volume and body weight. Synthesis and cholesterol homeostasis restoration induced by liver and tumoral reductase would account for no effect on the HLMC growth after a long treatment with Simvastatin.