Investigation of the effect of Atorvastatin and Irinotecan on breast cancer

Statins were the first cholesterol-lowering agents discovered. Because of their ability to significantly lower cholesterol blood levels, international guidelines recognize statins as first-line treatment for hypercholesterolemia. Statins have demonstrated antiproliferative effects in various types of cancer by inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol and its metabolites. A number of observational studies have reported a reduced risk of cancer onset or improved cancer outcomes in statin users. Many in vitro and in vivo studies on different types of cancer have highlighted the molecular mechanisms by which statins inhibit cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. These mechanisms have been considered the basis for the use of statins in cancer treatment and prevention. The antiproliferative effects of statins are a result of both the inhibition of the mevalonate pathway and their pleiotropic effects, that is, their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, and have a major impact on patient survival and cancer recurrence. In this study, the cytotoxic and metastatic effects of Atorvastatin and Irinotecan, separately and together, on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were investigated. In addition, the study results were theoretically supported by molecular docking analyzes with Bcl-2, Akt-1 and BAD proteins. The study results are a preliminary study, and in future studies, molecular mechanisms will be studied and new treatment methods will be discovered.