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Journals / Journal of Istanbul Veterinary Sciences / 2025 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 3

The use of bisphosphonates and statins in cancer treatment in dogs: New therapeutic approaches

Fatma Cinbat(ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY-CERRAHPASA, FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF PRE-CLINICAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY)0000-0002-6890-6891
Fulya Üstün Alkan(ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY-CERRAHPASA, FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF PRE-CLINICAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY)0000-0003-1782-9467
Pages
179–188
Publication Date
2025-12-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

This review aims to examine in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the use of statins and bisphosphonates based on their mechanisms of action, as well as the clinical expectations and the potential controversial aspects of this potential synergy in therapeutic applications in cancer treatment.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Statins and bisphosphonates are increasingly recognized for their anticancer potential, particularly due to their effects on the mevalonate pathway.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Statins competitively inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme (HMG-CoA) reductase, the major rate-limiting enzyme that controls the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid.
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Conclusion & Impact:This review aims to examine in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the use of statins and bisphosphonates based on their mechanisms of action, as well as the clinical expectations and the potential controversial aspects of this potential synergy in therapeutic applications in cancer treatment.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:bisphosphonates · statins · cancer

Abstract

Statins and bisphosphonates are increasingly recognized for their anticancer potential, particularly due to their effects on the mevalonate pathway. Bisphosphonates exert their effects on tumor cells by inhibiting a key enzyme in this pathway, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, thereby preventing protein prenylation and the subsequent activation of intracellular signalling proteins such as Ras. Statins competitively inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme (HMG-CoA) reductase, the major rate-limiting enzyme that controls the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid. The sequential action of both drugs on complementary targets within the mevalonate-dependent cascade, where they hit the same critical metabolic pathway at two different points, provides a potent therapeutic rationale for their combined use to maximize the anticancer effect. This review aims to examine in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the use of statins and bisphosphonates based on their mechanisms of action, as well as the clinical expectations and the potential controversial aspects of this potential synergy in therapeutic applications in cancer treatment.

Özet

Statins and bisphosphonates are increasingly recognized for their anticancer potential, particularly due to their effects on the mevalonate pathway. Bisphosphonates exert their effects on tumor cells by inhibiting a key enzyme in this pathway, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, thereby preventing protein prenylation and the subsequent activation of intracellular signalling proteins such as Ras. Statins competitively inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme (HMG-CoA) reductase, the major rate-limiting enzyme that controls the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid. The sequential action of both drugs on complementary targets within the mevalonate-dependent cascade, where they hit the same critical metabolic pathway at two different points, provides a potent therapeutic rationale for their combined use to maximize the anticancer effect. This review aims to examine in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the use of statins and bisphosphonates based on their mechanisms of action, as well as the clinical expectations and the potential controversial aspects of this potential synergy in therapeutic applications in cancer treatment.

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Cite This Article

Cinbat, F., Alkan, F. Ü. (2025). The use of bisphosphonates and statins in cancer treatment in dogs: New therapeutic approaches. Journal of Istanbul Veterinary Sciences, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 3, 179–188. https://doi.org/10.30704/http-www-jivs-net.1838286

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