Effect of simvastatin on c-myc, cyclin D1 and p53 expression in DMBA-induced breast cancer in mice

One of the most common invasive cancers diagnosed among women is the breast cancer. It was estimated that 14.9 million new cases of breast cancer were identified in 2012 which are expected to reach up to 22 million within the next two decades (Ghoncheh et al., 2016). Breast cancer must be considered as a multifactorial disease with gene-environment interactions (Martin and Weber, 2000). A better understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in cancers is essential for improving of our knowledge and developing new therapeutic protocols against cancers (Ashrafi et al., 2012). Mutations in the protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are termed as gain-of-function and loss-of-function mutations which overall lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation (de Leon, 1994). Abstract Introduction: Recently, the therapeutic and antioxidant effects of simvastatin on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene (DMBA) induced breast cancer have been studied. To gain further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of simvastatin, this study investigated its effects on the expression of c-myc, cyclin D1 and p53 in normal mammary glands and tumors.