Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Cholesterol medication shows potential as a novel treatment for liver cancer
Medical Xpress / The University of Hong Kong / Journal of Hepatology ^ | Sept. 12, 2025 | Yiling Chen et al

Posted on 10/11/2025 4:01:24 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

A research team has discovered that atorvastatin, a widely used cholesterol-lowering drug, could become a powerful new weapon in the fight against liver cancer.

Liver cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage when surgery is no longer an option. Current treatments such as targeted drugs and immunotherapy have limited success.

For patients with advanced liver cancer, especially those with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly known as NAFLD), which is caused by a high-fat diet, treatment options are limited and outcomes are poor.

The research team uncovered a novel therapeutic application for atorvastatin, which is a common medication taken by millions of people to manage high cholesterol. The team demonstrated for the first time that atorvastatin can directly attack liver cancer cells by blocking the "mevalonate pathway," a metabolic route crucial for cancer cell survival.

This pathway is especially active in liver cancers associated with fatty liver disease, making this discovery highly relevant to this growing patient population.

Explained Professor Carmen Wong Chak-Lui: "We found that these tumor cells rely on the mevalonate pathway to shield themselves from programmed cell death. By blocking this pathway with atorvastatin, we can effectively remove one of their key defenses."

More excitingly, the research team found that combining atorvastatin with existing liver cancer treatments, such as the targeted therapy lenvatinib or immunotherapy drugs (anti-PD-1), markedly improves their efficacy, even in MASLD-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (MASLD-HCC).

Laboratory models revealed atorvastatin alone reduced tumor growth by 33%. Remarkably, the combination of atorvastatin with anti-PD-1 therapy reduced tumor weight by nearly half (45%), while the combination with lenvatinib led to a 58% reduction.

The research team is planning to validate these findings in clinical trials, aiming to provide this promising therapy to patients as soon as possible.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: livercancer

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.

All three treatments, atorvastatin, anti-PD-1 therapy, and lenvatinib are available today.

Just atorvastatin and lenvatinib together led to a 58% tumor reduction. They did not yet test all three at once.

1 posted on 10/11/2025 4:01:24 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; telescope115; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

2 posted on 10/11/2025 4:01:54 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

The team found out the HCC form of cancer makes its own CoQ10 and selenocysteine-tRNA modifications, fighting off medical attack avenues.


3 posted on 10/11/2025 4:11:00 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeMind

I’m stopping Atorvastatin for a while. Too much muscle loss, loss of balance and stroke-liek brain issues.

For a little balance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGfp7Jtk_Jc

“STATINS: The REALLY BAD Side-Effects We’ve Seen (AS DOCTORS)”


4 posted on 10/11/2025 4:21:07 PM PDT by Justa (Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Justa

When I balked at taking statins my PCP suggested taking red yeast rice supplements instead. You might want to talk with your PCP about that.

And I wonder if RYR supplements would cause the same reduction in liver cancer as atorvastatin?


5 posted on 10/11/2025 4:32:55 PM PDT by Reddy (BO stinks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Justa

True.

However shrinking liver tumors?


6 posted on 10/11/2025 4:35:23 PM PDT by Chickensoup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Justa

I am a functional registered dietitian and I take everyone who is willing off of statins. They are a horrible drug, cause shrinking of the brain (cholesterol is the fat that protects our brain), and causes severe rhabdomyolysis (muscle wasting.)Amazing for you to walk away from them. All of the studies not done by Bog Pharma show that cardiovascular disease is caused by inflation due to carbohydrate intake. Statins are a complete scam. I believe they are finding other purposes for them since the truth of their dangers are coming out.


7 posted on 10/11/2025 4:50:04 PM PDT by republicanbred (...and when I die I'll be republican dead.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred

By inflation, I presume you mean inflammation?


8 posted on 10/11/2025 5:39:07 PM PDT by C210N (Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson