G-361

Cytotoxicity Effect of Simvastatin in G-361 Human Melanoma Cells

Free radicals in cancer cells can influence cancer processes and are affected by therapeutic substances. Chodurek et al. examined the influence of simvastatin at different concentrations on free radicals in G-361 human melanoma cells using EPR spectroscopy, aiming to correlate free radical changes with cell proliferation and find the optimal simvastatin concentration for cancer cell destruction.

To evaluate the cytotoxic activity of simvastatin, different concentrations of simvastatin (0.1-20 μM) were added to the medium and then the cells were cultured for 72 hours (Fig. 1). Simvastatin at a concentration of 0.1 μM, 0.3 μM, and 1 μM had no significant effect on the growth of cells compared to control cells. Treatment of G361 cells with 3 μM and 5 μM reduced cell growth, with similar cytotoxic activity. Cell growth inhibition was significant at 10 μM and 20 μM. IC₅₀ value for G361 cells treated with simvastatin for 72 hours was 6.72 μM. In A-2058 melanoma cells, similar results were observed. Simvastatin had a more significant effect on the proliferation of A-375 cells. The morphological changes of G361 melanoma cells cultured with various simvastatin concentrations are presented in Fig. 2A-D. The cells cultured for 72 hours in medium with 1 μM simvastatin (Fig. 2B) did not show morphological changes in contrast to the controls (Fig. 2A), so they have good viability. On the other hand, the cells cultured in a medium with 20 μM simvastatin (Fig. 2D) have severe damage.