Mechanism of lovastatin in promoting ferroptosis of prostate cancer cells by regulating the mevalonate pathway

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common malignancy in men with limited therapeutic options at advanced stages. Statins, widely prescribed lipid-lowering agents, have demonstrated antitumor activity in PCa, but underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Studies suggested that tumor progression is facilitated upon activation of mevalonate (MVA) pathway, while it is reduced via MVA pathway inhibition-induced ferroptosis. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether lovastatin suppresses prostate cancer progression by inducing ferroptosis through inhibition of the MVA pathway. Five clinically used statins were screened in prostate cancer cell lines to identify the most effective compound. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were assessed. Ferroptosis was evaluated by measuring intracellular Fe2+ and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, ferroptosis-related protein expression, and ultrastructural mitochondrial alterations. Rescue experiments were performed using the ferroptosis inhibitor deferoxamine and MVA supplementation. Lovastatin exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect, significantly reducing proliferation, migration, and invasion. Lovastatin significantly suppressing PCa cell aggressiveness and inducing ferroptosis, as evidenced by typical biochemical and morphological markers, all of which were reversed by deferoxamine. MVA supplementation restored cell viability, normalized oxidative stress and iron levels, and reversed alterations in MVA pathway enzymes and ferroptosis-associated proteins. Lovastatin suppresses prostate cancer cell growth and invasiveness by inhibiting the MVA pathway and inducing ferroptosis, highlighting the MVA-ferroptosis axis as a potential therapeutic target for PCa.