The molecular basis of the anticancer effect of statins

Statins, widely used cardiovascular drugs that lower cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase,have been increasingly recognized for their potential anticancer properties. This study elucidatesthe underlying mechanism, revealing that statins exploit Synthetic Lethality, a principle wherethe co-occurrence of two non-lethal events leads to cell death. Our computational analysis ofapproximately 37,000 SL pairs identified statins as potential drugs targeting genes involved in SL pairswith metastatic genes. In vitro validation on various cancer cell lines confirmed the anticancer efficacyof statins. This data-driven drug repurposing strategy provides a molecular basis for the anticancereffects of statins, offering translational opportunities in oncology.