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Lovastatin Inhibits Cancer Stem Cells and Sensitizes to Chemo- and Photodynamic Therapy in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignancy occurring at high incidence in Southeast Asia and southern China. In spite of the good response to radio- and chemo-therapy at the early stage, resistance and recurrence develop in NPC patients in the advanced setting. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in drug resistance and cancer recurrence. Here we report that lovastatin, a natural compound and a lipophilic statin that has already been used in the clinic to treat hypercholesterolemia, inhibited the CSC properties and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in sphere-forming cells derived from the 5-8F and 6-10B NPC cell lines. Furthermore, lovastatin conferred enhanced sensitivity to the chemotherapeutic and photodynamic agents in NPC CSCs. Together our findings suggest that targeting CSCs by lovastatin in combination with routine chemotherapeutic drugs or photodynamic therapy might be a promising approach to the treatment of NPC.

SUBMITTER: Peng Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5535721 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Lovastatin Inhibits Cancer Stem Cells and Sensitizes to Chemo- and Photodynamic Therapy in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Peng Yikun Y He Guangchun G Tang Da D Xiong Li L Wen Yu Y Miao Xiongying X Hong Zhangyong Z Yao Hui H Chen Chao C Yan Shichao S Lu Lu L Yang Yingke Y Li Qinglong Q Deng Xiyun X

Journal of Cancer 20170603 9

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignancy occurring at high incidence in Southeast Asia and southern China. In spite of the good response to radio- and chemo-therapy at the early stage, resistance and recurrence develop in NPC patients in the advanced setting. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in drug resistance and cancer recurrence. Here we report that lovastatin, a natural compound and a lipophilic statin that has already been used in the clin ...[more]

PMID: 28775785

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Dataset Information

Lovastatin Inhibits Cancer Stem Cells and Sensitizes to Chemo- and Photodynamic Therapy in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Publications

Lovastatin Inhibits Cancer Stem Cells and Sensitizes to Chemo- and Photodynamic Therapy in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

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