HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, also known as statins, are a type of drugs taken by millions of Americans to lower blood cholesterol levels. In the United States, statins available by prescription include atorvastatin (LipitorTM), lovastatin (MevacorTM), and simvastatin (ZocorTM). Recently, there has been a surge in interest in the potential use of statins in the treatment or prevention of cancer. By exploring the effects of statins on the process of cancer at the molecular level, scientists have found that they work against critical cellular functions that may help control tumor initiation, tumor growth, and metastasis. With years of strong evidence that these agents are relatively safe, statins present themselves as good candidates for cancer therapeutics with added advantages.

This invention describes a method for treating mammalian adenocarcinomas and sarcomas with an effective amount of an inhibitor of HMG Co-A reductase or homologues of the inhibitor. Adenocarcinoma is known to afflict the prostate, stomach, lung, breast and colon, as well as other sites. Lovastatin and simvastatin, as well as their homologues, are examples of compounds useful in the present invention. Also included are compounds classified as HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, as well as their homologues or analogues. Though the inhibitors of HMG Co-A reductase are generally known to reduce serum cholesterol in humans, the present invention focuses rather on the compounds' ability to treat selected cancers, such as adenocarcinomas of the prostate, stomach, lung, breast and colon and certain sarcomas such as Ewing's sarcoma.

Also provided by the invention is a method of reducing prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in a patient having prostatic adenocarcinoma by administration of an effective amount of a compound which is an inhibitor of HMG Co-A reductase or a homologue of such inhibitor, as well as a method of reducing PSA in conjunction with another treatment modality.

U.S. Patent No. 6,040,334 issued 21 Mar 2000 (HHS Reference No. E-146-1992/0-US-23)

Inventors: Charles Myers et al. (NCI)

Licensees sought. In addition to licensing, the technology is available for further development through collaborative research opportunities with the inventors.