Mevastatin (Compactin) inhibits HMGCR (HMG-CoA reductase) (Ki for acid form is 1 nM) which in turn inhibits isoprenoid biosynthesis and therefore blocks protein isoprenylation and reduces plasma cholesterol levels in humans. Mevastatin induces apoptosis, arrests cancer cells in G1 phase and downregulates cdk 2, 4, and 6, cyclin D1 and E1, p21 and p27. Mevastatin suppresses TNF-induced NF-κB activation (IC50 = ~17 ?M), which potentiates apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia cells and thus, may be useful in treating cancer.