Atorvastatin shows promise as novel treatment for liver cancer
HONG KONG: A research team from the Department of Pathology at the University of Hong Kong’s LKS Faculty of Medicine (HKUMed) has made a groundbreaking discovery that could transform liver cancer treatment. The team found that Atorvastatin, a widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug, can exploit a hidden weakness in liver cancer cells and significantly improve the effectiveness of existing therapies.
Liver cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, often diagnosed at advanced stages where surgery is no longer an option. Current treatments, including targeted drugs like lenvatinib and immunotherapy, have limited success and often provide only temporary relief. Patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, previously known as NAFLD) are especially vulnerable, with few effective treatment options and poor survival outcomes.
Repurposing Atorvastatin for liver cancer
The HKUMed team revealed that atorvastatin directly attacks liver cancer cells by blocking the mevalonate pathway, a metabolic process crucial for cancer cell survival. This pathway is particularly active in MASLD-related liver cancers, making the discovery highly relevant to a growing global patient population.
“Liver cancer cells are adept at surviving by using various escape routes,” said Professor Carmen Wong Chak-Lui, who led the study. “We found that these tumour 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 defences.”
Boosting the power of current therapies
The study further demonstrated that combining atorvastatin with standard therapies dramatically increased their effectiveness:
- Atorvastatin alone reduced tumour growth by 33%.
- Atorvastatin + anti-PD-1 immunotherapy reduced tumour weight by 45%.
- Atorvastatin + lenvatinib led to a 58% reduction in tumour weight.
“This approach could be a game-changer, especially for patients with fatty liver-associated liver cancer,” Professor Wong noted. “Since atorvastatin is already widely used and well-tolerated, our study highlights its potential to be repositioned beyond cardiovascular health and into oncology.”
Next steps – Clinical trials and hope for patients
The HKUMed team plans to validate these findings in clinical trials, aiming to bring this affordable, widely available therapy to patients as soon as possible. If successful, the approach could offer a new and cost-effective treatment strategy, particularly in regions with rising cases of MASLD-HCC.
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The study was led by Professor Carmen Wong Chak-Lui with Dr. Chen Yiling as first author, alongside collaborators Professors Wong Chun-Ming, Irene Ng Oi-Lin, and Regina Lo Cheuk-Lam. It was supported by the Health and Medical Research Fund and published in the Journal of Hepatology.
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