The HMG-CoA reductase pathway, statins and angioprevention.

Angiogenesis is one of the earliest and essential phenotypes acquired by tumors during carcinogenesis and thus might be a potential target for chemoprevention. Key to developing antiangiogenic chemoprevention is to identify new molecular targets and effective angiogenesis inhibitors. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins, were originally designed to reduce cholesterol biosynthesis and have been extensively used as prevention drugs against hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular conditions. Recent research has found that statins promote endothelial death and inhibit experimental angiogenesis induced by growth factors or tumor, laying a foundation for developing statin-based angiopreventive strategies. This article reviews the biological effects of statins on endothelial cells and angiogenesis, possible underlying mechanisms and perspectives on future application of statins in preventing pathological angiogenesis.