Fluvastatin induces apoptosis on human tongue carcinoma cell line HSC-3

Abstract

Statins, which are inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. However, the effects of statins in head and neck carcinoma have not been reported. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which fluvastatin induces apoptosis in HSC-3 cells. An increase in caspase-3 activity was observed. The apoptosis induced by fluvastatin was inhibited by the addition of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) to the cell culture. When we examined the survival signals at the time of apoptotic induction, we also found that fluvastatin had caused a remarkable decrease in the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. Moreover, we also found that U0126, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, induces apoptosis in HSC-3 cells. These results suggested that fluvastatin induces apoptosis by inhibiting GGPP biosynthesis and consequently decreasing the level of phosphorylated ERK1/2. The results of this study also indicate that fluvastatin may be used as an anticancer agent for tongue carcinoma. © 2008 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.