Atorvastatin as a pleiotropic anticancer agent: mechanisms, evidence, and therapeutic repurposing potential

Cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, with incidence and mortality rates rising annually. Atorvastatin, a widely used statin, primarily functions by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, thereby lowering cholesterol. Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that ATV possesses significant anticancer properties beyond its lipid-lowering effects, positioning it as a promising candidate f