Rosuvastatin (RST) modulates vascular remodeling in different systemic malignancies, thereby restricting tumor growth and expansion.

RST has an inhibitory effect on tumor growth in prostatic malignancies. This was confirmed by Lustman et al. (2014) in a recent study in which they reported a hazard ratio of 0.22. Prolonged use as well as higher doses both have a more pronounced effect in decreasing the risk of prostate cancer. Similarly, RST has a negative effect on tumor cell invasiveness as well as metastasis. Brown et al. (2012) have recently demonstrated that RST mediates this role in part by downregulating geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate production. These changes were recently confirmed in PC-3 cell lines. Similarly, RST exposure has a limiting effect on tumor growth in dermatological malignancies, especially malignant melanomas. Maj et al. (2016) have recently demonstrated that RST mediates this role by attenuating intratumoral proliferation. These changes are dose dependent and were recently confirmed in A375 as well as WM1552C cell lines.

RST also has a restricting effect on neoplastic expansion in hepatic malignancies. It mediates this role in part by modulating Notch4 expression. Tijeras-Raballand et al. (2010) have recently demonstrated that RST also has a negative effect on intratumoral angiogenesis. The number of smooth muscle actin–positive arteries is especially reduced. As a result, “survival time” is significantly prolonged. Not surprisingly, Chen et al. (2015) reported an odds ratio of 0.22 when analyzing the association between RST administration and the decreased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in individuals with diabetes. The authors reported an odds ratio of 0.24 when RST was coadministered with metformin.

The above data were recently confirmed by Chen et al. (2016) in a recent study, in which they reported that RST especially has a marked chemopreventive effect against various cancers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The above examples further confirm the antineoplastic activity of RST in different systemic malignancies.

• Copyright © 2017 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics