Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain a major clinical challenge, with limited efficacy of current therapeutic regimens. Natural compounds such as oleuropein and pharmacological agents like atorvastatin have shown anticancer potential individually, yet their combined effects in HNSCC remain unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic, antimigratory, and molecular effects of atorvastatin and oleuropein, alone and in combination, in FaDu pharyngeal carcinoma cells.
Methods
FaDu cells were treated with oleuropein, atorvastatin, or their combination. Cell viability was assessed by cell viability detection kit-8 (CVDK-8), migration by wound healing assay, and mRNA expression of apoptosis, proliferation, and signaling-related genes by real-time PCR.
Results
Oleuropein significantly reduced cell viability, induced
BAX
and
PTEN
expression, and suppressed
CDK2
and
CDK4
, consistent with apoptosis induction and cell-cycle arrest. Atorvastatin alone exhibited minimal cytotoxicity but downregulated
AKT
and
mTOR
. Combination treatment attenuated oleuropein’s cytotoxicity and increased
BCL-2
expression, suggesting a potential antagonistic interaction. Neither atorvastatin nor its combination with oleuropein significantly inhibited cell migration.
Conclusions
This is the first study to investigate atorvastatin and oleuropein co-treatment in HNSCC cells. While oleuropein alone demonstrated potent anticancer effects, atorvastatin partially counteracted these activities, highlighting the complexity of drug–natural product interactions. Future studies should expand dose–response analyses, validate protein level mechanisms, and test
in vivo
models to clarify the translational potential of this novel combination.