Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Anticancer Properties of Pitavastatin against Cervical Cancer Cells

Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent form of cancer and is a significant contributor to female mortality on a global scale. Pitavastatin is an anti-hyperlipidemic medication and has been demonstrated to exert anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of pitavastatin on cervical cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved. The results showed that pitavastatin significantly inhibited cell viability by targeting cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in Ca Ski, HeLa and C-33 A cells. Pitavastatin caused sub-G1- and G0/G1-phase arrest in Ca Ski and HeLa cells and sub-G1- and G2/M-phase arrest in C-33 A cells. Moreover, pitavastatin induced apoptosis via the activation of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), Bax and cleaved caspase 3; inactivated the expression of Bcl-2; and increased mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Furthermore, pitavastatin induced apoptosis and slowed the migration of all three cervical cell lines, mediated by the PI3K/AKT and MAPK (JNK, p38 and ERK1/2) pathways. Pitavastatin markedly inhibited tumor growth in vivo in a cancer cell-originated xenograft mouse model. Overall, our results identified pitavastatin as an anticancer agent for cervical cancer, which might be expanded to clinical use in the future.