METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR PREVENTING/REDUCING THE SEVERITY OF SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND/OR RADIOTHERAPY

摘要

A method of inhibiting cell cycle progression by administering to a subject an effective amount of a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor is disclosed. More particularly, the specification discloses the use of a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor to prevent or reduce the severity of epithelial cytotoxicity side-effects, such as alopecia, mucositis and/or plantar-palmar syndrome in a subject receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is preferably a statin or a derivative, analogue or prodrug thereof.