BE54 - The Effect of Long Term Statin Treatment on Cell Viability in Colorectal Cancer Cells
SCURS Disciplines
Cell Biology
Document Type
General Poster
Invited Presentation Choice
Not Applicable
Abstract
Context:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. In recent years, studies have shown that there are anti-carcinogenic effects on CRC cell lines when using reductase inhibitors or statins. Statins are typically prescribed for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, statins inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) in the mevalonate pathway, disrupting tumor-promoting processes, such as YAP/TAZ-dependent transcriptional response and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT), altering DNA methylation of tumor suppressor genes. It has also been found that statins can be safely used for long-term cancer prevention.
Objective:
This study aims to assess the effect of long-term atorvastatin or simvastatin treatment on the viability and mitochondrial activity of colorectal cells using the MTS Assay. The objective is to determine whether statins reduce CRC proliferation compared to standard chemotherapy.
Methods:
Colorectal cancer cell lines HCT-15, SKCO-1, and HT-29 were cultured according to the protocol from the American Type Culture Collection. Cells were treated with either of the experimental statin solutions every time they were passaged. Treatment groups were as follows: 10 μM atorvastatin, 40 μM atorvastatin, 10 μM simvastatin, 40 μM simvastatin, 40 nM doxorubicin (DOXO) as the positive control, or 40 nM dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the negative control. Untreated cell viability was also assessed as a baseline prior to treatment.
Cell viability was assessed every two weeks using the MTS Assay. Cells were plated at a concentration of 1x10^5 live cells/mL in a 96-well plate, as determined by the Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay. After cells were established in their wells for 48 hours, each well was treated with 20 uL MTS Solution. Absorbance readings were taken every 30 minutes over the course of 2 hours at 450 nm using an ELISA plate reader.
Statistical analysis was performed using a 2-sample T-test with a Bonferroni correction, with a p-value of ∝ = 0.05/28 = 1.80E-3.
Results:
This study is still ongoing, but preliminary results showed that prolonged statin treatment decreases colorectal cancer cell viability over time. After treatment, the CRC cells significantly decreased in growth rate between passages, as confirmed by visual observation via inverted light microscopy.
Conclusion:
Statin treatment decreases colorectal cancer cell viability, demonstrating its potential for use as a chemotherapy alternative. However, analysis of treatment over several months is necessary to ensure that drug resistance does not develop.
Keywords
Cancer, statins, colorectal, cell viability
Start Date
10-4-2026 9:30 AM
Location
University Readiness Center Greatroom
End Date
10-4-2026 11:30 AM
BE54 - The Effect of Long Term Statin Treatment on Cell Viability in Colorectal Cancer Cells
University Readiness Center Greatroom
Context:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer and the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. In recent years, studies have shown that there are anti-carcinogenic effects on CRC cell lines when using reductase inhibitors or statins. Statins are typically prescribed for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, statins inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) in the mevalonate pathway, disrupting tumor-promoting processes, such as YAP/TAZ-dependent transcriptional response and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT), altering DNA methylation of tumor suppressor genes. It has also been found that statins can be safely used for long-term cancer prevention.
Objective:
This study aims to assess the effect of long-term atorvastatin or simvastatin treatment on the viability and mitochondrial activity of colorectal cells using the MTS Assay. The objective is to determine whether statins reduce CRC proliferation compared to standard chemotherapy.
Methods:
Colorectal cancer cell lines HCT-15, SKCO-1, and HT-29 were cultured according to the protocol from the American Type Culture Collection. Cells were treated with either of the experimental statin solutions every time they were passaged. Treatment groups were as follows: 10 μM atorvastatin, 40 μM atorvastatin, 10 μM simvastatin, 40 μM simvastatin, 40 nM doxorubicin (DOXO) as the positive control, or 40 nM dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the negative control. Untreated cell viability was also assessed as a baseline prior to treatment.
Cell viability was assessed every two weeks using the MTS Assay. Cells were plated at a concentration of 1x10^5 live cells/mL in a 96-well plate, as determined by the Trypan Blue Exclusion Assay. After cells were established in their wells for 48 hours, each well was treated with 20 uL MTS Solution. Absorbance readings were taken every 30 minutes over the course of 2 hours at 450 nm using an ELISA plate reader.
Statistical analysis was performed using a 2-sample T-test with a Bonferroni correction, with a p-value of ∝ = 0.05/28 = 1.80E-3.
Results:
This study is still ongoing, but preliminary results showed that prolonged statin treatment decreases colorectal cancer cell viability over time. After treatment, the CRC cells significantly decreased in growth rate between passages, as confirmed by visual observation via inverted light microscopy.
Conclusion:
Statin treatment decreases colorectal cancer cell viability, demonstrating its potential for use as a chemotherapy alternative. However, analysis of treatment over several months is necessary to ensure that drug resistance does not develop.