Stimulation of anchorage independent proliferation of human adrenocortical carcinoma cells by inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis

Proliferation of SW13 human adrenocortical carcinoma cells under anchorage independent conditions was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with the cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor mevinolin. Induction of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity was observed in mevinolin treated cultures. The growth stimulatory effect of mevinolin, but not that of epithelial transforming growth factor, a polypeptide growth factor for SW13 cells, was reversed by exogenous mevalonic acid. However, neither dolichol nor low density lipoprotein supplementation affected the response of SW13 cells to mevinolin. The results suggest that mevalonic acid metabolites may participate in the regulation of anchorage independent growth of SW13 cells.