Simvastatin suppresses head and neck squamous cell carcinoma ex vivo and enhances the cytostatic effects of chemotherapeutics.

Purpose Simvastatin (Sim) is approved as lipid-controlling drug in patients with cardiovascular risk to reduce hypercholesterolemia. Recent publications indicate possible inhibitory effects of Sim on tumor cell lines, and epidemiological data suggest activity in cancer patients. Still, its therapeutic efficacy, particularly in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), remains to be elucidated. This study analyzes the effects of Sim on HNSCC cell lines (KB, HN5, FaDu) and on a larger set of primary HNSCC cells by employing a short-time ex vivo colony formation test (FLAVINO assay). Possible additive or synergistic effects of Sim combinations with established chemotherapeutics are determined as well.