RESUMO
Statins induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, reduction of angiogenic factors, inhibition of theendothelial growth factor, impairing tissue adhesion and attenuation of the resistance mechanisms. The aim of thisstudy was evaluate the anti-tumoral activity of simvastatin in a B16F10 melanoma-mouse model.Melanoma cells were treated with different concentrations of simvastatin and assessed by viabilitymethods. Melanoma cells (5 ~ 104) were implanted in two month old C57Bl6/J mice. Around 7 days after cellsinjection, the oral treatments were started with simvastatin (5 mg/kg/day, p.o.). Tumor size, hematological andbiochemical analyses were evaluated.Simvastatin at a concentration of 0.8 ÊM, 1.2 ÊM and 1.6 ÊM had toxic effect. Concentration of 1.6 ÊMinduced a massive death in the first 24 h of incubation. Simvastatin at 0.8 ÊM induces early cell cycle arrest in G0/G1, followed by increase of hypodiploidy. Tumor size were evaluated and the difference of treated group andcontrol, after ten days, demonstrates that simvastatin inhibited the tumor expansion in 68%.Simvastatin at 1.6 ÊM, presented cytototoxicity after 72 h of treatment, with an intense death. In vivo,simvastatin being potentially useful as an antiproliferative drug, with an impairment of growth after ten days.