Simvastatin and Atorvastatin inhibit DNA replication licensing factor MCM7 and effectively suppress RB-deficient tumors growth

• DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.46
• Publication Date: 2017-03-16T13:44:39Z
• Authors: Juan Li; Jie Liu; Zheyong Liang; Fang He; Lu Yang; Pingping Li; Yina Jiang; Bo Wang; Can Zhou; Yaochun Wang; Yu Ren; Jin Yang; Jianmin Zhang; Zhijun Luo; Cyrus Vaziri; Peijun Liu
• Keywords: Retinoblastoma; Retinoblastoma protein

Loss or dysfunction of tumor suppressor retinoblastoma (RB) is a common feature in various tumors, and contributes to cancer cell stemness drug resistance therapy. However, the strategy suppress eliminate Rb-deficient cells remains unclear. In present study, we accidentally found that reduction DNA replication licensing factor MCM7 induced more apoptosis RB-deficient than control cells. Moreover, after screening further studies, demonstrated statin Simvastatin Atorvastatin were able inhibit RB expressions. Further study showed chromosome breaks gaps vivo results significantly suppressed growth xenograft mouse models. The work demonstrates 'old' lipid-lowering drugs statins are novel weapons against tumors due their effects on suppressing protein levels.