Lovastatin Prevents Carcinogenesis in a Rat Model for Liver Cancer. Effects of Ubiquinone Supplementation

This study tests the hypothesis that statins (HMGCoA reductase inhibitors) inhibit carcinogenesis and that this effect may be mediated by the statin-induced inhibition of ubiquinone synthesis. The effects of lovastatin, with and without addition of ubiquinone, were studied in a rat model for chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Intermediates in the mevalonate pathway were measured. Lovastatin treatment reduced the volume fraction of liver nodules by 50% and the cell proliferation within the liver nodules was reduced to one third. Ubiquinone (Q10) treatment reversed the statin-induced inhibition of cell proliferation. Lathosterol levels were reduced significantly in the statin-treated rats, indicating inhibition of the mevalonate pathway, but cholesterol levels were not affected. Lovastatin inhibits carcinogenesis in a rat model for liver cancer, despite unaffected cholesterol levels. The statin-induced inhibition of cell proliferation may, at least in part, be explained by the inhibition of ubiquinone synthesis.