Prognosis

Full list of author information is available at the end of the articleIntroduction New prognostic and treatment-predictive markers are needed to improve treatment decisions and consequently prognosis and treatment response in breast cancer patients. Recent data suggest that the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), which is inhibited by statins that are commonly used as a cholesterol-lowering treatment, may be associated with breast tumor characteristics, prognosis and treatment response [1–3]. HMGCR is the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway [4]. The mevalonate pathway produces cholesterol, steroid hormones, and non-steroid isoprenoids, which are necessary for cell survival [5]. Previous studies demonstrated that HMGCR inhibitors (e.g., statins) exert anti-carcinogenic effects by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting inflammation [6], proliferation and migration [7–9]. HMGCR inhibitors can also inhibi