Beyond cholesterol reduction, the pleiotropic effects of statins: is their use in cancer prevention hype or hope?

ISSN 1758-4299 10.2217/CLP.13.29 © 2013 Future Medicine Ltd Clin. Lipidol. (2013) 8(3), 273–277 Pleiotropic effects of statins Millions of patients worldwide are currently tak­ ing prescribed statins. Clinical trials have dem­ onstrated that statins reduce the risk of cardio­ vascular disease [1]. Statins are well known to reduce cholesterol levels through the inhibition of 3­hydroxy­methylglutaryl CoA reductase [2]. However, great interest has recently been paid to the mechanisms beyond cholesterol reduc­ tion (pleiotropic effects) by which statins exert their action. Indeed, statins are associated with plaque stabilization and improvement of endo­ thelial function, as well as anti­inflamm…