Statin-Dependent Suppression of the Akt/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Cascade and Programmed Cell Death 4 Up-Regulation in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: Statins are pharmacologic inhibitors of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase with potent regulatory effects on cholesterol biosynthesis in vitro and in vivo. There is accumulating evidence that, beyond their cholesterol-lowering properties, statins inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis of malignant cells in vitro, but the mechanisms by which they generate such responses remain to be defined.