Cancer; infectious disease

Mouse and monkey studies suggest simvastatin could be used as an adjuvant to boost the efficacy of cancer and influenza vaccines. In mice, immunization with the antigen ovalbumin plus simvastatin induced a greater T helper type 1 (Th1) immune response and higher numbers of ovalbumin-specific CD8⁺ T cells than the antigen plus alum. In mouse models of ovalbumin-expressing melanoma and human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cervical cancer, immunization with ovalbumin/simvastatin or E7 transforming protein/simvastatin, respectively, decreased tumor volume and increased survival. In macaques, immunization with HA1 and simvastatin increased serum titers of HA1-specific IgGs. In mouse challenge models of lethal influenza A viral infection, immunization with HA1 and simvastatin decreased weight loss, lung damage and disease severity and increased survival. Next steps could include testing simvastatin as a vaccine adjuvant in other cancer and infectious disease models...